The Verdict Was Split

October seventh.

Here is what happened: a thing went sideways at the end of a shift, and by the time we were in the break room, Simone had already formed an opinion about whose call it was. The opinion was stated calmly and with a flat hand on the table, which is how I know she was very confident in it.

I had a counterpoint. Several, actually. Simone listened to all of them with the expression of someone grading a paper they've already read and already failed. She did not change her position. I tried a different angle, the 'extenuating circumstances' angle, and she tilted her head a quarter inch to the left, which means she's letting me finish but has already moved on internally. This is a look I have received before. It does not bode well.

The deliberation. Simone presiding.

The final ruling was that it was 'a little bit' my fault. Not completely my fault. Not even mostly my fault. A little bit. Simone said this in the same tone you'd use to tell someone their parking job is fine but. I appealed the decision. The appeal was denied.

Closing arguments. I lost.

For the record: the extenuating circumstances were real. I stand by the counterpoint. The shift ended fine and we walked out at the same time and neither of us brought it up again, which is either the sign of a healthy friendship or a shared understanding that the verdict would not change regardless. Probably both.