On September 3, 2005 at approximately 6:11 PM, my friend Lily Ana got into a car accident. As she approached the intersection of 22nd and Alvernon, she began to make a left and head southbound on Alvernon in the second lane, when out of nowhere a 2003 Altima came flying right into the front of her car, making her car skid into the first lane. At least that's what my friend said.
And I believed her. When she called me that day, crying cuz she was all shooken up, I believed her. I even took her side when she told me that she said the wrong thing to the officer. She had told him that while making the turn the light was already yellow, but what she meant was after she began to turn, the light went yellow, meaning she had the right of way. Of course her statement landed her a ticket, which was the reason we went to court yesterday afternoon.
Since this was Lily Ana's first court appearance she had no clue as to what to do, and since I already had previous experience (aka September 23), I went for moral support. (actually, I went as an excuse to miss my math class, but tomatoe, tomatah!)
So we met at the downtown court and found ourselves sitting on a wooden bench, facing nine police officers. Now this was a courtroom. I know it's kinda stupid for me to say this, but I was semi-jealous that Lily Ana got a better courtroom than I did. I mean her case was nothing more than a speeding ticket. Mine was grand theft. Not that I'm bragging or anything, (cuz it wasnt grand theft), but you know what I mean?
Lily Ana got called to the stand, while a nerdy cop sat on the other side. And when I say nerd, I mean nerd. Pleated pants, penny loafers (no lie...), and a plaid shirt. Both a fashion victim, and a walking ad for birth control. So anyways, Lily Ana explained her side of the situation, while the nerdy cop explained his. In the end, Lily Ana lost her case and had to pay a grand fine of $162, instead of the $62 that the ticket was issued. But like my 3rd grade teacher Ms. Clough used to say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
As we drove away from the court house, with Lily Ana behind the wheel, upset about the unfair outcome of the case, I began to wonder if the outcome was fair. Lily Ana drove out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell and totally ran a red light. And that was just within 15 seconds of leaving the court house.
Now, I'm not one to judge on other people's driving abilities (not after I crashed into that callbox 2 years ago, but that's another story!), but it seemed to me that Lily Ana wasnt exactly a safe driver, which was quite odd, since this wasnt the first time I was in the car with her. I mean, yeah, sure, I may have been drunk a few of those other times, but still! You'd think that if she was this bad of a driver, then this wouldnt have been her first ticket.
But it was, and she wanted my opinion on the situation.
LILY ANA: Dont you think that was so unfair? I mean that cop totally just pissed me off!
ME: Huh?
LILY ANA: The cop. Like he really needed to say that I said I ran a yellow light.
ME: Oh, yeah...
LILY ANA: Why couldnt he just keep his mouth shut?
ME: Yeah...
LILY ANA: I mean, I know I'm a good driver, you know? Dont you think?
Actually, I didnt know what to think. I still dont know what to think. Is it wrong to tell your friend, the one you just supported, that she is and was in the wrong? Or do you just smile and pretend like nothing happened? Or is that wrong? Maybe a weekend in Cali will help me sort all this out...
And I believed her. When she called me that day, crying cuz she was all shooken up, I believed her. I even took her side when she told me that she said the wrong thing to the officer. She had told him that while making the turn the light was already yellow, but what she meant was after she began to turn, the light went yellow, meaning she had the right of way. Of course her statement landed her a ticket, which was the reason we went to court yesterday afternoon.
Since this was Lily Ana's first court appearance she had no clue as to what to do, and since I already had previous experience (aka September 23), I went for moral support. (actually, I went as an excuse to miss my math class, but tomatoe, tomatah!)
So we met at the downtown court and found ourselves sitting on a wooden bench, facing nine police officers. Now this was a courtroom. I know it's kinda stupid for me to say this, but I was semi-jealous that Lily Ana got a better courtroom than I did. I mean her case was nothing more than a speeding ticket. Mine was grand theft. Not that I'm bragging or anything, (cuz it wasnt grand theft), but you know what I mean?
Lily Ana got called to the stand, while a nerdy cop sat on the other side. And when I say nerd, I mean nerd. Pleated pants, penny loafers (no lie...), and a plaid shirt. Both a fashion victim, and a walking ad for birth control. So anyways, Lily Ana explained her side of the situation, while the nerdy cop explained his. In the end, Lily Ana lost her case and had to pay a grand fine of $162, instead of the $62 that the ticket was issued. But like my 3rd grade teacher Ms. Clough used to say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
As we drove away from the court house, with Lily Ana behind the wheel, upset about the unfair outcome of the case, I began to wonder if the outcome was fair. Lily Ana drove out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell and totally ran a red light. And that was just within 15 seconds of leaving the court house.
Now, I'm not one to judge on other people's driving abilities (not after I crashed into that callbox 2 years ago, but that's another story!), but it seemed to me that Lily Ana wasnt exactly a safe driver, which was quite odd, since this wasnt the first time I was in the car with her. I mean, yeah, sure, I may have been drunk a few of those other times, but still! You'd think that if she was this bad of a driver, then this wouldnt have been her first ticket.
But it was, and she wanted my opinion on the situation.
LILY ANA: Dont you think that was so unfair? I mean that cop totally just pissed me off!
ME: Huh?
LILY ANA: The cop. Like he really needed to say that I said I ran a yellow light.
ME: Oh, yeah...
LILY ANA: Why couldnt he just keep his mouth shut?
ME: Yeah...
LILY ANA: I mean, I know I'm a good driver, you know? Dont you think?
Actually, I didnt know what to think. I still dont know what to think. Is it wrong to tell your friend, the one you just supported, that she is and was in the wrong? Or do you just smile and pretend like nothing happened? Or is that wrong? Maybe a weekend in Cali will help me sort all this out...
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