By CherylR

July 2004

Blair sighed and reached for his paperwork and the phone. "Oh goody, they have the recording set up on time this week."

The same pre-recorded female voice came on the line. "It is Friday, July 9, 2004. This message is for jurors in the District court pool for the month of July. Remember to listen to the entire message before you make any choices…."

Blair rolled his eyes. Here we go again.

"…No photo-taking cell phones or photo-taking PDA’s will be allowed in the courthouse. If your name is called you must report to the courthouse no later than 7:30 am Monday, July 12, 2004. You must bring a photo ID for security purposes. Remember the attire for this court is business casual. That means no shorts, no jeans, no t-shirts and no hats…"

"Hey, no fair man. The group last week didn’t have to report until 8."

Jim chuckled as he grabbed a couple of mugs off the counter. He filled his with coffee and fixed tea for his partner.

The woman’s voice finally wound down and he was presented with the same four options to choose from. "If your last name starts with A as in Adam through F as in Frank press one. If your last name starts with G as in George through L as in Lincoln press two. If your name starts with M as in Mary through R as in Robert press three. If…"

Why don’t I just press the damn button already? I already know what she’s going to say and she’s not going to say anything else after that. He tapped his foot on the floor waited.

"…with S like Sam through Z like Zebra press four. This concluded this part of the message please press the correct choice now."

"I wonder how many people listened all the way to the end of the message this week?" Blair said as he punched the four on the phone’s keypad.

The same voice came back on the line and said, "You have chosen names that start with S as in Sam through Z as in Zebra. If your name is called you must report to the courthouse no later than 7:30am Monday, July 12, 2004. Charles Saad. Judy Sam. Samantha Sams. Blair Sandburg...

----

Jim turned quickly as he heard his partner’s heart rate speed up. "Blair, you okay buddy?"

"She… she said my name," Blair whispered in disbelief.

"Okay."

"I have to be at the courthouse at 7:30 Monday morning…"

"Well, Sandburg… you knew that could happen."

"Yeah, but… she said my name." Maybe I made a mistake and she said two names that put together sounded like my name.

"Sandburg, what’s taking so long?"

"Umm, I just wanted to listen to the message again and make sure that she really said my name," Blair replied sheepishly.

Jim patted his partner on the back. "Drink your tea and let’s get back to work."

"I didn’t really expect her to say my name."

"You’re repeating yourself there Darwin."

Blair slowly got up and went back toward the bullpen with his partner.

-----

"Hey Chief, there’s a message on the machine… will you check it while I see about dinner?"

"Sure man," Blair said with a sigh.

He pushed the rewind and then play. Sandburg froze when he heard ‘the voice’. It’s the same woman. Blair’s eyes got bigger as he listened to the message.

"This message is for Blair Sandburg. Mr. Sandburg, if you have already called in to check the recording, you know that your name was chosen. We just received notice that the case was settled out of court. You do not need to report on Monday, but you do need to call back as scheduled on Friday July 16, 2004. Thank you."

Blair sank down into the nearby chair and sputtered, "but… I just got all my exams rescheduled."

I did too… I found a babysitter for the kids for Monday and had another on standby for Tuesday when I got the call telling me not to come in. And so… the saga continues.

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