The Justice Court

Mark calls me today in hysterics, literally. Obviously upset. I was at work and on a tight time frame, but if someone calls me from my house, it's gotta be an emergency because no-one calls me from there otherwise.

The 350 pound man, again. This time, Mark came home from the store on his bicycle. He said he drove straight into the driveway, got off his bike and went to open the gate. He had his earphones on playing music off of an MP3 player. It's a recurring theme around here: feeling eyes on you. He felt eyes and turned around, shocked to see that guy standing IN my driveway, RIGHT behind Mark. This guy is 20 feet into my property. Mark didn't want to hear whatever he had to say, he started yelling at 350 pound man: get the f*** out of here, get off the property, get out of here, leave, now!!

That was it. This guy is willing to come right onto my property now? NO. When I left work, I came straight home, got on the computer, found his full name and birth date through not that much searching, went back out, got into my car and headed straight to the Justice Court building in downtown Phoenix.

The reason I haven't done this sooner? Takes hours. Wait in line, get the paperwork, go sit down at a table and then start filling it all out. Give the reasons why the court should grant the injunction. Go back to the counter, wait endlessly, give them the paperwork. They hand it back to you: you didn't fill in those blanks. Yes, that's because I don't know the answers to those questions that are concerning him, thank you. Fill one or the other in anyway. Fill it in within 10 seconds, the guy walks off. 10 minutes later, someone finally comes back. Okay, you can go take a seat - again. This goes on for an hour and a half. Finally: go to court room 100.

I got to court room 100. The clerk says there isn't any injunction cases pending. Yes, ma'am, that's because they JUST finished the paperwork and will undoubtedly be bringing it in here. "Well, there's a hearing schedule at 3:30 that is about to begin". It's 3:45 when she tells me that. Gag. The judge shows up, 2 women are called up to the front and sit down at the tables. Neither speaks English. Wait for interpreters. How can you live your whole life in America and not learn the language of the land?

But, that's the way these people are, they do not want to integrate with our society, they want to turn our society into Northern Mexico. I sit there and listen to these ladies not do a very good job on either side of persuading the judge. How does the judge figure THIS one out? After an hour, it's over and my case is finally en-queue. He says pardon me, Mr. BenB, I will be back in just 2 minutes. Oh? Well, I replied, I need to go to the bathroom if that is okay, I'll be right back as well. He replies: "yes, that is where I am headed".

I did not have to go into 3 plus years of explanations to him, I just gave him the worst occasions. He didn't hesitate to give me the injunction. I already knew 350 man can come back and attempt to get it dropped. No biggies. If he tries, I will be there, trust me, I will be there. Back out to the front counter to wait again. I am finally handed my paperwork.

Oh, I didn't even mention the metal detectors. Now this court is requiring everyone to remove their belts to put through the scanner or x-ray or whatever it is they are looking at. My pants immediately start falling down - I have been losing more weight recently. I get through the detector without it even going off.

I stand there for several minutes while they are looking through the machine at the view it is giving them of my stuff. What could possibly be so interesting? When it comes out, they hand it to me and I'm about to put it back into my pockets when another man comes along and starts digging through it. ??? Whatever.

I leave, come home, immediately call Crime Stop, that's the non-911 number. They say yes, an officer will be dispatched after any emergency calls are all done first. Understandable, I reply and thank them and hang up. It was 10 minutes later and 2 cars show up. They go over there. 350 man must have an inkling that something isn't quite right in Denmark, he has drawn all his shades and you can't see in the house. The police bang on the door, the windows, walk around to the other side. They are over there for several minutes, but come back with paperwork in hand.

"Is there a car over there in the driveway?" I ask. Yes. He's home. Nothing they can do about it. They tell me to call when I see him outside. Well, he's opened the shades now that they are gone. No worries, the man cannot stay inside forever. It isn't in his DNA to not go around and start trouble with someone in the neighborhood.

.......and then he closed them, now he's opened them yet again. Geeze.

Whatever. I probably won't do this tonight. If nothing else, this weekend will work.