📖 The Legal Fiction of Hugh “Tim” Halford
Part I: The Incident
Traffic Collision and the Golden Retriever
- The M.Div student had just stepped out of his car after another driver ran a red light in Pasadena, clipping his bumper.
- Lola, his golden retriever, wagged her tail exuberantly, seemingly unaware of traffic laws. Have you ever met a mean golden retriever? Or a mean golden retriever owner? Not here.
- Two police officers approached, hands hovering near belts, and later claimed the student swung at them—though in reality, he had not even considered it.
- The incident was soon misreported and became the foundation for Tim Halford’s legal fiction and dramatic maneuvers.
Part II: The Local Legend
City Hall Whispers and Framing Attempts
- The M.Div student, known as the Good Citizen, became a local legend at Fuller Seminary for “almost fighting the police” while Lola wagged nearby.
- Tim Halford sought to prove the student had an anger problem, embellishing minor frustrations and weaving unrelated behaviors into evidence.
- Lola’s presence and joyful demeanor softened impressions of the student, making Halford’s claims seem exaggerated.
- Despite Halford’s memos and dramatized motions, the Good Citizen quietly gathered his own evidence of truth and procedural irregularities.
Part III: The Novella
Courtroom Confrontation
- Weeks later, subpoenas arrived, and the Good Citizen appeared in court with thorough documentation of events, witness statements, and chronological records.
- Tim Halford presented his crafted legal fiction with theatrical flair, attempting to portray the Good Citizen as volatile or dangerous.
- The M.Div student responded calmly, allowing the facts to speak, demonstrating restraint and moral integrity throughout.
- Lola sat loyally at his feet, a living symbol of innocence and patience, highlighting the absurdity of Halford’s allegations.
- Eventually, Halford’s schemes unraveled, as fact triumphed over fiction and the courtroom recognized the truth of the incident.
- The story of the Good Citizen and his golden retriever became a whispered legend, cemented in both Fuller Seminary’s halls and City Hall corridors.
- Tim Halford retreated to his office, already plotting his next tale, but learning that some truths—especially those paired with Agape—cannot be rewritten.
