Chapter 8 #2
“That’s well locked, and there’s an additional bolt that can only be opened from the inside. No one is getting in that way. No, it’s just me being ridiculous, and I need to get over it.” He opened the door, and James followed him out in the early October sunshine.
“DO YOU need help putting things away?” he asked when they returned, carrying the bags up the walk. The dogs all barked and jumped down from the window, greeting them at the door in a frenzy.
“You’d think I’d been gone for hours,” Lyle said as they scrambled over each other to get close to him.
“Let me put all this away and you can get pets.” He went through to the kitchen, all four dogs scurrying along behind him.
“Once I’m done, we can watch a movie if you want.
Unless you have work to do. I noticed that you brought your book bag. ”
“I have some reading I need to get done.” There was always a ton of it. “I can put it off until tomorrow.”
“I have a book.” Lyle closed the refrigerator door. “I can read, and you can have a couple hours of quiet.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to be a downer or anything.”
“It’s great.” Lyle got some drinks and set them on the coffee table.
Then he grabbed a couple of light blankets and made himself comfortable on one end of the couch.
James sat on the other and stretched out, his legs sliding alongside Lyle’s.
He opened his book to read through the cases for the next week.
Some had been printed up for him, while others he’d researched himself and had copies on his iPad.
The dogs jumped up on the sofa, each finding a place to lie down.
James kept his attention on his work, reading and making notes while Lyle got into his book.
There were times when there was nothing more boring than reading through case law, but some of it was interesting, especially when it came to seeing how the case could turn on a single point of law.
There were times when it got his ire up because the point of law did not go toward the greater justice.
“What got under your skin?” Lyle asked. “Your foot is twitching, and it’s tickling my leg.”
“Nothing. Just a case that sucks. Some of them do and in this one, I think the judge erred in his opinion.” He got out his notebook and began writing, putting down the points where he thought the judge was wrong.
He had more research to do in order to prove it, but this was a place for him to start.
“He applied the statute incorrectly. Now I need to see if it was appealed or if it was simply not picked up.”
“Do you need anything to do that?” Lyle asked as he shifted.
“Just my computer.” He set his book material on the floor next to him and pulled out his computer to research the history of the case.
From there he got into the weeds of the case and its aftermath, and once he was satisfied that the decision was not challenged, he set about outlining a case for one.
He also sent a note to the others in his group, telling them that he had done this case and would review it tomorrow.
They had claimed their cases as well, and while they each read through the cases, the detailed analyses were shared and discussed simply because of time.
James stretched and rolled his neck, making the dogs perk up. “I think they need to go out, and I need to stretch my legs,” Lyle said and slowly sat up. All the dogs jumped down when he stood and descended to the basement, leaving James alone upstairs.
James used the time to read through another case, pull out the important points, and make his notes.
Once that was finished, he set the books aside, shifted to a different notebook, and used his laptop to continue working on a paper he had due at the end of the week.
The first draft was nearly complete, but he wanted to finish it up so he would have time to review it again before submission.
Still, he took a moment to stand and stretch.
The dogs raced up the stairs and jumped on the sofa.
He pulled his laptop back and petted each of them.
“Come on, you rabble. Let me sit back down. You don’t get to take all the room.
” Lyle sat back down, and then dogs found their places again.
This time James rested his laptop on his belly and kept working.
“Do you need anything else?” Lyle asked.
“I don’t think so. I should have this paper done in an hour or so.
” That would put him well ahead and get a big task off his plate.
He continued typing and referred to his notes a couple of times before typing up his conclusion.
He sighed as he saved the file and closed the laptop, resting his head back. “I’m glad that’s done.”
“Good.” Lyle closed his book and set it aside. “Let’s do something.” The sun was still shining, but the colors had started to darken. “I’d like to take the dogs for a walk in the park.”
“Good idea.” James felt a little logy. He’d been deep in his studies for long enough that he blinked a few times and slowly sat up to pull on his shoes.
Lyle was ready and got the leashes. The dogs all raced around in excitement.
“You’re goofs,” Lyle said and clipped their leashes on each of them, giving James Dash and Daisy.
Then they left the townhouse. James stopped by his truck to grab a sweatshirt against the slight chill.
Then they headed around the building to the path to the park.
He always liked the wooded portion of the path. During the summer it was noticeably cooler, and now the trees and shrubs were beginning to put on their fall colors. The dogs pranced as they walked as if they knew they were special.
As they approached the bridge at the back of the park, Lyle groaned and walked faster, heading off across the grass instead of taking the path. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Debbie and her husband.” At that moment the dogs saw them and began to growl.
Lyle continued forward, putting distance between them.
“I wish to hell they would just fall off the face of the earth. They live on the other side of town. They could stay over there. There are plenty of parks that they can walk in to spread their grumpiness. They don’t need to walk in mine. ”
James didn’t say anything. Instead, he kept the dogs walking away from them. At least then there wouldn’t be an issue.
“Can we pet the dogs?” a boy and a girl asked as they raced up, all excited.
The dogs hurried over, and the kids were soon surrounded in doggie love.
Their laughter filled the afternoon with happiness, and hopefully it would help Lyle forget about Debbie and her husband, but James kept an eye on them in case they decided to head their way.