My stomach is grumbling.
It's been hours since I got up.
I didn't have time to grab some breakfast.
Nor did I have a chance to drink something besides water.
The judge wants us in court at precisely 9:30 a.m.
He's a stickler for starting on time.
I leave my house at 7:00 a.m.
I need to walk to the train.
I hope the train is running on time.
I hope I catch the express to Manhattan.
That's 26 minutes, non-stop instead of 33 minutes.
I made the express.
Now only if I had eaten something.
My stomach is already grumbling.
I didn't have time to make some snacks.
I figure I'll get some in Penn Station.
My train is delayed in Long Island City just before we enter the tunnel to New York City.
That makes it impossible for me to grab something to eat.
Damn I'm hungry!
I now am cutting things close.
I need to be in Brooklyn.
In Kings County Supreme Court.
That's at 360 Adams Street.
That's easy.
Just quickly walk through Penn Station to the 2 or 3 train and take it downtown.
That's what I do.
Except there's a slight delay for the subway.
It's crowded, as usual.
The subway is jam-packed with people today.
My stomach is grumbling.
I think everyone in the train can hear it.
At least, I THINK they can hear it.
It takes 35 minutes to get to downtown Brooklyn.
I get to the court house with a few minutes to spare.
My medical expert is waiting outside the courtroom.
He's there today to finish being cross-examined by my adversary.
He was on the witness stand yesterday when I asked him questions.
That's was direct examination.
I wasn't hungry yesterday.
This morning I'm starving.
I'm dreaming about breakfast.
A sesame seed bagel with cream cheese.
Maybe scrambled egg and cheese on a roll.
Maybe some cereal.
Maybe just a banana with some peanut butter.
Maybe an apple.
Something!
Anything to make the grumbling go away.
I look in my trial bag.
My briefcase.
All I have are papers related to this trial.
Deposition transcripts.
Legal pads.
Legal research.
Pens.
Business cards.
Sadly, there's no food and no snacks anywhere in my briefcase.
UGH!
The judge walks in at precisely 9:30 a.m.
He brings the jury in moments later.
He directs my medical expert to take the witness stand again.
He reminds him that he's still under oath.
My opponent starts to cross-examine my medical expert.
Ten minutes into it, I hear my stomach rumble.
Loudly.
I think everyone in the courtroom can hear it.
I look around.
I look at the judge.
I look at the jury.
I look at my expert.
I look at my adversary.
Nobody seems to have noticed.
That's good.
I don't want them to know I'm starving.
I'm looking at the clock wondering when the judge will take a bathroom break.
Then maybe I can run downstairs to the concession stand and get a quick snack.
This is not good.
It's now 11:00 a.m. and still no break.
UGH!
My stomach is empty.
I've got horrible tasting water from a container filled by the court officer directly from the tap.
That's what happens when you forget your own bottled water.
But even if I had snacks in my bag, I wouldn't be able to eat them.
Not during cross-examination.
Not during trial.
Certainly not in the courtroom.
To learn whether I can eat pizza-flavored goldfish crackers during cross examination, I invite you to watch the quick video below...
