Photo by the author, Deeann D. Mathews, March 6, 2021 at Alamo Square Park
“Is it is just me, or did you take a extra chill pill up here in Tinyville, Cousin Harry?”
Nine-year-old George Ludlow, though he was rarely still long enough for people to know when he was picking up on things, was very attuned to the people around him. On the first morning of what he thought was a vacation (nobody burdened him with a voluntary evacuation and all the reasons why), he noticed Col. H.F. Lee, his cousin, coming out on Wednesday morning in something like a Hawaiian shirt. The colonel almost always appeared calm, but George had picked up on the subtlety.
“I work in Big Loft and at the Veteran's Lodge,” he said, “so I am in my mind always on duty there. But it is 7:00 in the morning, and my cousin and closest friend, Major Ironwood Hamilton, is on watch over Tinyville, so I am a little more relaxed.”
“Yeah, being with Milton my best friend helps me chill out too,” George said, “and so do Papa and Grandma when they have time to just hang out, and you and Cousin Maggie too, and my sisters Amanda and Eleanor, and my little brother Grayson is real chill, and Milton's dad is real chill too. But I got a question; aren't you a police officer everywhere?”
“On weekends, all Lofton County police officers are on call for the county for serious matters,” Col. Lee said, “but I am on furlough in Big Loft again, so I am off duty until the weekend, when I will go check in at Tinyville's police department.”
“So, what if there is like attempted murder in front of the house?”
“Although Tinyville is not my jurisdiction, every citizen has the duty to prevent such acts if he or she can. I am a peace officer at all times, and I am also a U.S. army officer, so it is triply my duty to prevent such an act from occurring if I become aware of it.”
“Good, Cousin Harry, because Milton and I were kind of looking at how close the roofs are on our vacation houses, but then, Papa is not feeling well and kind of extra growly, so then, if we missed a jump, things were probably going to get bad on the ground, so, it's good to know that you're still kinda looking out for stuff that might happen because maybe some people might get mad.”
“As a public safety officer, it is my duty to inform you that jumping from roof to roof is completely illegal in this jurisdiction for both you and Milton, and the law will be enforced.”
“Oh, snap – I just told you the whole plan!” George said.
“But I appreciate that we are real chill and can have good conversation,” Col. Lee said as he opened his arms.
“Well, yeah,” George said as he came and enjoyed his hug.
“Want some tea, George?”
“Yes, I would, and thank you, just as soon as I leave a note for Milton that we don't have to get the ladder out after all.”