Henry The Court Cat

DOG BITE

Henry watched, seated upright and majestic the people that came before his mistress, the Judge. He took great interest in the court proceedings, his gaze moving from the Judge to the others in the court. He never left his place beside the Judge in her court, but occasionally someone would stroke him and he would stirr and purr loudly.

Judge Eleanor wore a white lacy blouse beneath her grey blazer. Her long hair was neatly combed and under control.

Henry was a cat with great presence, exactly like his mistress. They were two of a kind. Both with fine features and big brains. It was no surprise that they presided over the most interesting of cases in Hatty County Court.

Every case had a touch of ceremony. When Judge Eleanor smiled, Henry smiled with her. When Judge Eleanor was angry, he drew his lips back revealing a row of sharp teeth. Henry was a short haired grey, black and white thing of baffling breeding but his eyes shone with devotion for his mistress.

Judge Eleanor flopped the next case file on top of the shortest pile on her desk and sat down.

Henry always listened intently and sniffed at the excuses made by those who became before his mistress. He  always envied the ones that came before his mistress. She was a fair and impartial Judge and he was proud and protective. Today a young lady was in court complaining about a Jack Russell dog that had bitten her nine-year-old daughter's fingers as she bent to stroke it.

The door opened and a tall, thin lady with blonde hair cut short, entered. Her warm brown eyes were wideset. She wore a clean white blouse and black pencil skirt. Behind her was her young daughter who had long brown hair, darted with blonde highlights. It hung soft and loose around her face. Hazel eyes were framed with black spectacles. She had a pale complexion and seemed nervous. A man walked in behind them and they all sat down.

"Thank you for coming to my court room, I am Judge Eleanor and this is Henry, the court cat. Our job is to listen to both sides and make a decision. Let's start with you Miss Ford."

After allowing the mother to explain exactly what happened, Judge Eleanor turned to the daughter. Henry sat upright his gaze moving to the little girl as she spoke. The little girl reached forward and stroked Henry's head again and again. Henry sat like a king at the far end of his mistresses' table. On the other side of the table was the dog owner. His clothes were expensive, his air distinguished and he looked well educated. He was wearing a Ralph Lauren shirt beneath a light grey suit. He looked at the little girl quizzically. His arms were folded and he listened calmly.

Niki was a sweet tempered girl with a frank, open face and honest green eyes.

" I bent down to say hello to that man's dog and when I put my hand out to stroke him, he bit me. I screamed and screamed and screamed".

The dog owner's eyes bulged perilously. "Was he on a lead?" the Judge asked indignantly "he was playing on the field, he is only two," replied the dog owner.

"I need a yes or no answer," repeated the judge as she surveyed him critically Niki's mother smiled.

Judge Eleanor had a piercing headache probably because she had missed lunch. It had been a very busy day. She took a carton of milk and poured some into Henry's bowl. She tried not to act to irrationally as she reached for some biscuits from the drawer beneath the table. She had no idea what the caseload would be like from one day to the next. Judge Eleanor turned her face to the ceiling seeking divine inspiration. Henry looked upwards too having satisfied his thirst. Hanging on the walls of the room were portraits of all the District Judges who had worked at Hatty Court since the start of the century.