I’m often asked where writers get their ideas. Here are a couple from real life…

Having practiced in the courts for over 30 years, I’ve seen just about everything you can imagine concerning human behavior. I’d like to share some of the funnier/tragic ones with you.

Uncle Charles is upstairs in his bedroom

During a cold spell a few winters ago, the local gas company went out to a home to check on an unusually high meter reading for heat. When they arrived, they found a man passed-out and lying in the back door. He blocked it from closing completely. Inside, a second door had been closed but not tightly enough to prevent the heat from escaping.

While the techs were looking things over in the house, they smelled something bad. They talked to the homeowners, a large family who lived in the house in shifts. People came and went all the time. One of the women took the techs into the kitchen. Although it was a mess, the odor didn’t come from there.

The techs questioned the family. Anything unusual happen recently?

Nothing that anyone could remember. The first woman said, “Come to think of it, Uncle Charles has been missing for a few days.”

Uncle Charles occupied a bedroom upstairs, but he wasn’t seen often because he sold drugs and usually never came home. He had been home the past Sunday while parts of the family ate and watched the Vikings’ game. Charles was upstairs in his bedroom and, at one point, a stranger came to the door. He was looking for Charles and went upstairs . The man came back ten minutes later and left.

What about Charles?

The techs followed the woman upstairs to his bedroom, knocked on the door, and finally pushed it in. There was Charles; he was shot to death. Lying in his bed, he was the source of the foul odor.

Later, the police determined Charles’ visitor had shot him over a drug deal gone bad. The family recalled some noises coming from upstairs but didn’t think any more of it.

Court appearance by speaker phone

Sometimes, if a witness is unavailable in person, a judge may allow the person to testify by speaker phone so everyone in the courtroom can hear.

One man, who lived out of state but had an interest in the outcome of the case, was allowed to participate by speaker phone. As the case proceeded, he could hear everyone in the courtroom and they, in turn, could hear him.

As the case wore on, strange noises started coming from the speaker phone. People in the courtroom began to hear grunts, farts, spitting, and a few gross comments. Apparently, the man forgot that every sound he made could be heard.

When the judge rules against you, go naked.

A lawyer appeared before a particularly tough judge for a hearing. When the judge ruled a second time against the lawyer’s request, he took off his tie and suit coat. Two more rulings against the lawyer made him take off his shirt. As the rulings became worse, the lawyer kept taking off more clothing. When he finally reached his underwear, the deputies moved in to lead him off.

Any of these stories, all true, could give a writer ideas. Do you have any ideas from these stories to share?