We didn’t bring in books or the special chair insert or cushions Carol must use to protect her fractured back.  We had no idea what was waiting for us as we entered the County Court House on Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami.  I was overwhelmed by the number of people who congregated there for marriage licenses, court dates, or a number of other things like paying a fine for my ticket received for being hit by another car.  You see, despite my turning into a left hand turning  lane and being hit by the car behind us wanting to go straight ahead, the State Trooper pronounced me guilty leading to the wait mentioned above.

There was a motley crew in that large room with two distinct lines I did not detect until Carol walked over and pulled a numbered ticket from a machine that said “for fines”. We stood around not certain what to do when a voice over a loud speaker called out the numbers that holders of which could get up and stand in line and “all you others who didn’t take English 101” should get out of the line and wait your turn.

We were able to get seats and spoke to fellow waiters.  All had different stories to tell and some had cute children who either squirmed or talked loudly and wanted to get down and move around.  This was a trial for the parents but the kids were cute and knew it.  The little girl sitting on her mommies’ knee next to me wouldn’t speak to me and answer what her name was.  She was very petite and very feminine but would not warm up to my seeking to make friends by showing her tricks one could do with fingers.  I know she wanted to copy what I was doing but she was shy (corroborated by her mother) and we pointedly ignored each other from that time. I tried one more time to indicate that the little boy on the other side of the room was really a little noisy and boy-like and not like her.  But my ploy only resulted in her looking more interested in the little noisy boy.

We were told that the wait was two hours and it turned out that this was true.  Almost two hours passed until our number was called and then things began to move fast and we were in and out after the lady behind the heavy glass window did things to her computer and signed a number of things and gave me a paper to sign and we had to fork over about 10% less than the ticket cost. Because I attended a class I would receive no points.  The whole thing gobbled up time we could have done other things but the passing show in that court house was interesting.  Our ticket to go up to the window and pay up was # 30.  But that was after 1,999 were called.  That court house does a big business supported by criminals like me who was caught making a left turn when someone hit me with her front in my passenger left side.  Insurance, repairs and renting a “loaner” finished up the experience nicely. We hope to get Carol’s “baby” back tomorrow.