Excerpt from the Story My Father Goes to Court Finally, he said, “I should like to cross-examine the complainant." "Proceed."
"Do you claim that we stole the spirit of your wealth and became a laughing family
while yours became morose and sad?Father said. "Yes." "Do you claim that we stole
the spirit of your food by hanging outside your windows when your servants cooked
it?" Father said. "Yes." "Then we are going to pay you right now," Father said. He
walked over to where we children were sitting on the bench and took my straw hat
off my lap and began filling it up with centavo pieces that he took out of his pockets.
He went to Mother, who added a fistful of silver coins. My brothers threw in their
small change. “May I walk to the room across the hall and stay there for a few
minutes, Judge?" Father said. "As you wish." "Thank you," father said. He strode
into the other room with the hat in his hands. It was almost full of coins.
The doors of both rooms were wide open. "Are you ready?" Father called.
"Proceed," the judge said. The sweet tinkle of the coins carried beautifully in the
courtroom. The spectators turned their faces toward the sound with wonder. Father
came back and stood before the complaint. "Did you hear it?" he asked. "Hear
what?" the man asked. "The spirit of the money when I shook this hat?" he asked.
Yes." "Then you are paid," Father said. The rich man opened his mouth to speak
and fell to the floor without a sound.
The lawyer rushed to his aid. The judge pounded his gravel. "Case dismissed,"
he said. Father strutted around the courtroom the judge even came down from his
highchair to shake hands with him. "By the way," he whispered, "I had an uncle
who died laughing." "You like to hear my family laugh, Judge?" Father asked? Why
not?" "Did you hear that children?" father said. My sisters started it. The rest of us
followed them soon the spectators were laughing with us, holding their belies and
bending over the chairs. And the laughter of the judge was the loudest of all.

Reflection:

1. What was the rich man's accusation against the father?

2. What could be the reason why father filled his hat with coins?

3. Do you think what the poor father did in paying the rich family was acceptable?
Why or why not?

4. What lesson can you learn from the story?

5. If you were given a chance to change the title of the story, what would it be and
why?​