Essay/Term paper: George dawes green's the juror: annie

Essay, term paper, research paper:  World Literature

George Dawes Green's The Juror: Annie


I have sustained some of the most appalling trials of this century. Over me I
have felt distress, bleakness, sorrow. However none of them were as smashing as
Annie's. Have you ever heard about Annie? Oh yes Annie Laird, one of the most
kind jurors I have ever met. In George Dawes Greens The Juror, He sumarized the
events and, thoroughly explained the pain and anguish Annie had to go through.
The woe in which her life revolved after mentioning those lousy words ¨I need a
little excitement in my life ¨1, well, if Annie needed to add a touch of
excitement to her life she should have tried Disneyland not jury duty. What I am
about to air is what happened in our little run with the mob. Truly that has a
bit of foul humor because I can't run. If you keep on reading you will
understand the risks of serving for jury duty ¨Who will protect you?¨2

Before I met her, Annie was an unadorned artiste who had just transferred out of
Manhattan and into the country. To a small cottage by a lake. Her child, Oliver,
who loved to ride his bike, moved in as well. I have to say that when I met
Annie for the first time it was as Juror N° 224. She was a sparkling maid. Who
would have thought a rotten soul such as the teacher would try to harm her? I
confess that her recoil in the following days impressed me. This time the trial
was against Louie Boffano. He was the head of the mob. He and his right hand The
Teacher were as bad as they come. The case was the murders of Salvadore Riggio
and his grandson. Mr. Boffano was being accused of ordering them. By this time
Annie and I already knew the teacher, but we acknowledged him as Zach Lyde. He
had a very piquant approach toward Annie; he bought three of her artworks for
twelve thousand dollars each. Nevertheless, how were we to imagine that he was
part of the mob? By the time that night had come, Zach Lyde was having dinner at
Annie's house. Oliver stayed at a friend's house; Juliet's house. Then came
those frightful words from the teacher ¨Annie, listen to me now, you're in
danger and your son is in danger¨3 After this, disaster struck Annie's life.
From this moment on Annie would feel disquietude and distress. Her house was
bugged, her friend's house was bugged, and she could not tell anyone. All she
had to do was to induce the other jurors to say just two words: ¨not guilty¨4

Annie's life was miserable; whomever she told would be put in grievous peril.
The teacher was listening in, on everything they were saying. During the trial
Annie tried everything to drop out of it. However who could she talk to? Even
the judge could be on their side. The teacher often made his point clear to
Annie. He would usually kill someone to show her she would be next if she
slipped. Annie implemented all her swaying powers to manipulate the jury. At the
end, and I heard it clearly, came these exact words: ¨As to count one in the
indictment, murder in the second degree, do you find the defendant guilty or not
Guilty?

Not Guilty ¨5

Well now the trial was over, but Zach wasn't altogether ready to let Annie go.
After Slavko Czernyk, the detective engaged in the follow-up of the teacher, had
died, it came to the authorities that something wrong was going on. This became
Annie's opportunity. She spoke to Zach and during their conversation she taped
him saying ¨I might discard old Louie¨6 She subsequently took it to Boffano, who
was bloody mad about the subject and wanted the teacher killed. Wrong idea
Annie; what were you thinking? The teacher got word of Annie's betrayal and blew
up Boffano's car, killing him and his associates. He also murdered Juliet and
made it look like suicide. Annie just then understood where he was going next;
he was after Oliver. But how could he get to Oliver if he was in Guatemala,
where she took him for his own safety. Then a call; told her that the teacher
knew her son was in Guatemala; she had to save him. The chase was on...

It was a long chase involving planes, cars and about ten dead people. At last
the teacher had done it; he had found Oliver. Though Annie strived to get there
first, it was he who had done it. At least that was what he thought. As
intelligent as he was, he never imagined that Annie would be there, waiting for
him. When the teacher was about to shoot Oliver, Annie ¨came out of the dark,
like she was made of it ¨7 and shot him to death.

I must go now. It is time to start a new trial, meet a new juror, and live a new
adventure. I must say before I go that I am very happy to have met Annie, and to
have carried her on top of me. For those of you who don't know who I am, you
just might be sitting on me right now.

¨Isn't it ironic?¨8