Jimmy Read Online Free Page A

wall. While he talked to Grandpa, I took the lid off his bucket and saw there was only one fish in it,
and it wasn’t that big. I caught one the same size a couple of weeks ago, and we threw it back. When I asked the man about the fish in his bucket, he got as red in the face as Mr. Laney did a few minutes ago.”
    The courtroom laughed again.
    â€œWhat was the truth about the fish?” Daddy asked.
    â€œThat it was a little one. Grandpa said he should have thrown it back into the pond so it could grow bigger.”
    â€œIf I ask you some questions, will you tell me the truth?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œYou won’t tell us a fish is big if it’s little?”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    â€œIf Mr. Laney asks you questions, will you tell the truth?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œWill you tell us a lie?”
    â€œNo, sir. That would be wrong.”
    Daddy picked up a black book and held it up for Jimmy to see.
    â€œWhat is this book?” he asked.
    It was black and had gold lettering on the front. Only one book in Jimmy’s world bore those markings.
    â€œIt’s a Holy Bible.”
    â€œDoes the Bible tell us things about God?”
    That was an easy question.
    â€œYes. And Jesus too. He is God’s Son.”
    â€œDoes God want you to tell the truth?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Daddy turned toward Mr. Laney. “You may ask.”
    Mr. Laney walked up close to the witness stand. He didn’t look mad or angry.
    â€œJimmy, what is an oath?” he asked in a soft voice.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œWhat does it mean to swear to tell the truth?”
    Jimmy felt his face get red. He’d heard a boy at school say some strange, new words during recess. When he asked Mama about it, she warned him not to use swear words.
    â€œI don’t want to say.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause my Mama says there are better words to use.”
    Daddy stood. “He thinks you’re talking about cursing.”
    Mr. Laney nodded. “Do you know that the word swear has a meaning other than saying a bad word?”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    â€œDo you know why you’re here in the courtroom today?”
    â€œBecause Mama kept me home from school and brought me.”
    â€œHas your father told you what he wants you to say?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œObjection,” Daddy said. “This is outside the scope of the court’s inquiry into the witness’s competency to understand the nature of the oath.”
    â€œSustained,” the judge said.
    â€œAre you going to tell the truth or what your father wants you to say?”
    â€œSame objection,” Daddy said.
    â€œOverruled.”
    â€œAnswer the question,” Mr. Laney said.
    Jimmy didn’t say anything.
    â€œDo you remember the question?” Mr. Laney asked.
    Jimmy shook his head. “No, sir.”
    Mr. Laney glanced at his watch and looked up at Mr. Robinson.
    â€œI asked him a question fifteen seconds ago, and he can’t remember it. How reliable can he be about more remote events?”
    â€œA good point, Mr. Laney,” the judge replied. “But it goes to credibility, not competency. I’ve let both you and Mr. Mitchell stray off course on this memory matter, but I remind you that it is not the primary issue in determining whether this young man is competent to testify.”
    Laney turned toward Jimmy. “I’ll ask you again since you can’t remember. Are you going to tell the truth or what your father wants you to say?”
    â€œBoth,” Jimmy answered.
    Mr. Laney stepped back. “Why do you say both?”
    â€œBecause the truth is what my Daddy wants me to say.”
    â€œThat’s enough, Mr. Laney,” the judge said. “I’m going to rule he can testify.”
    â€œBut what about these imaginary people?” Mr. Laney asked. “I want to question him about his ability to distinguish