A small town prosecuting  attorney called his first witness to the stand in a trial--a grandmotherly, elderly woman. He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"

　　She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy. And frankly, you've been a big  disappointment  to  me.  You  lie,  you  cheat  on  your  wife,  you  manipulate  people  and  talk  about  them  behind  their  backs. You  think  you're  a  rising  big  shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit  paper  pusher. Yes, I know you."

　　The  lawyer  was  stunned.  Not  knowing  what  else  to  do  he pointed  across  the  room  and  asked,  "Mrs.  Williams, do you know the defense  attorney?"

　　She again replied, "Why, yes I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. I used to baby-sit him for his parents. And he, too, has been a real disappointment to me. He's lazy, bigoted, he has a drinking problem. The man can't build a  normal relationship with anyone and his law  practice is one of the shoddiest in the entire state. Yes, I know him."

　　At this point, the judge rapped the courtroom to silence and called both counselors to the bench. In a very quiet voice, he said with  menace, "If either of you asks her if she knows me, you'll be in jail for contempt within 5 minutes!"

Key  words：

prosecuting  attorney　（n.）檢察官

trial　（n.）審訊中、審問

frankly　（adv.）坦白說

manipulate　（v.）操控

You  think  you're  a rising  big  shot　你以為自己有多了不起

two-bit  paper  pusher　（n.）不值錢的坐辦公桌的人

defense  attorney　（n.）辯護律師

bigoted　（adj.）固執的　

law  practice　（n.）法律業務

shoddiest　（adj.）最劣質的　　　shoddy　劣質的

rap　（v.）敲擊

counselor　（n.）在法庭裡稱乎律師

menace　（n.）恐赫、威脅　　click 發音