"Mr. Edison, you stand before the court today accused of multiple counts of murder. The jury, and myself, are prepared to hear the facts of each case, as well as the testimonies of those involved. What say you, sir?"
"I didn't do it," said Maxwell, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth, threatening to come into full view. He glanced at the jury, and quickly tried to gauge their personalities. They were weak, he finally decided. He would walk.
*
"Just a minute," said Joan, in response to the knock at her door. It was quite likely her date, a young man studying Medicine at University. Joan went there herself, studying Pataphysical Science. She didn't have much free time, but when he'd called her up and asked her to go the theatre, she'd been unable to resist. He did have rather gorgeous eyes.
Joan opened the door looking like one of Her Majesty's own daughters, and found her suitor to be not unlike a prince. He even had a single red rose in his left hand, which he gave to her with a smile to replace words. She greeted him, took the flower, and turned to go and get her purse. The young man followed her in, revealed a silver hammer in his right hand, and opened the crown of her head with two quick, hard blows. The smile never left his face.
*
"Details about the case have been heard, and the jury will now retire to consider a judgment. I will join them shortly. Do you have any words to offer, Mr. Edison?"
"No, Your Honor," answered Maxwell. He winked at the two women in the jury. The courtroom emptied rather quickly, leaving him alone to ponder his fate. He thought it odd that they would trust handcuffs to restrain him. Maxwell quietly picked the lock, and slunk off to find a janitor's room.
*
"How many times must I write this?" asked the boy of his teacher. She gave him a stern look.
"50 times, young man, in straight lines across the blackboard. And if you ask again, it will be 100." The boy grumbled to himself and began writing, thinking to himself how marvelous it would be if all the teachers in the world would up and die. Round about the 30th line of "I must not do so," the boy's fantasy had become very elaborate indeed. By the 50th, it had become a plan.
The boy put the chalk down, and quietly left the room. Down the hall, he found the closet with the tools, and pulled out a silver hammer. Then, he only had to wait. When the old bat finally left her classroom, he crept up from behind, and caved in her skull with 2 quick, easy blows. The boy realized that his daydream was coming true, and he smiled as he gave her 2 more, for good measure.
*
You cannot be serious," exclaimed the judge, standing in a boardroom before the jury. "That man out there has killed people. At least 2 that we know of!"
"No, he hasn't," replied Rose, the speaker for the jury. "We've determined that Maxwell Edison is innocent of all charges brought against him. Let him go." The judge looked around the room at the people as though they themselves were guilty.
"You're making a big mistake," he said, through gritted teeth.
"Yes, they are," whispered Maxwell, from behind the judge. Before he could turn around, 2 succinct blows from a silver hammer released the blood from his head. The door shut behind Maxwell, and he looked around the room. He never stopped smiling.