Want vs. Need

"Will the defendant please rise," the gravely voice of the grizzled judge commanded harshly.

With a scuffle of chair legs and nervous feet the well-dressed defendant and his high profile, highly polished lawyer stood with him. He had a small, smug smile on his tight face. He felt assured of his victory. He had yet to be denied any of his desires.

He glanced over to the other table in the shabby courtroom. The table looked as beat up, as worn down as the threadbare man that sat behind it. Clearly, he thought to himself, this loser does not stand a chance. I have won. The rest of this is merely a formality.

The judge cleared his throat impatiently, fully aware that he did not possess the defendant's full attention. The defendant looked sheepishly down, hating having been caught.

The judge cleared his throat once more. "We, the Court of Life find the defendant, Want, to be in violation of both Common Sense and Reality. Furthermore we sentence the defendant to exile until such time as the Court of Life finds it reasonable to do so."

This cannot be happening! Not to me! The defendant could do no more than stand there in shock at the court's decision. Not once had it occurred to him that he might lose. He looked over to the other table. His nemesis seemed brighter, more sure of himself, and inexplicably he also seemed less threadbare, less tired than before.

Want fumed. He was banished and it was all the fault of the paltry little man at the next table. He vowed his revenge even as the court officers bound his hands and took him away. Need would never be safe from Want.