Sycamore Row - John Grisham

37
Jake walked into the Coffee Shop at five minutes after seven on Saturday morning, and,
as usual, the conversation lagged for a few seconds as he found a seat and swapped a
few insults. The trial started in two days, and, according to Dell, the early morning
chatter was dominated by rumors and endless opinions about the case. The subject was
changed the moment Jake walked in each morning, and as soon as he left it was as if
someone flipped a switch and Seth’s will was again front and center. Though her
customers were all white, they seemed to be divided into several camps. There were
strong opinions that a man in his right mind should be able to give away his property as
he pleased, regardless of his family. Others argued he wasn’t in his right mind. Lettie
had her share of detractors. She was widely believed to be a loose woman who took
advantage of poor old Seth.
Jake stopped by at least once a week when the café was empty and got the lowdown
from Dell. Of particular interest was a regular named Tug Whitehurst, a state meat
inspector. His brother was on the jury list, though she was certain Tug had not
mentioned this. He wasn’t much of a talker, but during one conversation he did side
with Kerry Hull when Hull declared it was no one’s business how he left his estate. Hull
was notoriously broke and in debt and everyone knew his estate would be a disaster,
but this was allowed to pass without comment. At any rate, Dell thought Tug Whitehurst
would be okay with Jake, but who knew about his brother?
At this point in the case, Jake was desperate for any information about the chosen
ninety-seven.
He sat at a table with a couple of farmers and waited on his grits and toast. Bass
fishing dominated the conversation, so Jake had little to offer. For at least the last three
years, a great debate had raged in certain circles over whether the large-mouth bass
population in Lake Chatulla was declining or increasing. Opinions were strong and loud
and there appeared to be no room for compromise. Experts were plentiful. Just as the
tide shifted in favor of a dwindling population, someone would land a trophy and the
debate would fire up again. Jake was weary of the topic but now thankful for it
nonetheless; it kept attention away from the Hubbard case.
As he was eating, Andy Furr asked, “Say, Jake, is the trial still a go for Monday?”
“It is.”
“So no chance of a postponement or anything like that?”
“I don’t see one. The prospective jurors will be there at nine and we should get started
soon after. You coming?”