Chapter 2016

“Madam,” the police officer said, “if your son’s wife only stole two hundred dollars from you, we can’t file a case.”

The officer’s statement was merely an analogy, but Lady Wilson recalled selling a television from Donald’s villa with Harold and Christopher. Fearful, she nervously asked, “Officer, what’s the sentence for stealing a $100,000 television?”

The officer replied seriously, “If the television is truly worth one hundred thousand dollars, that’s a significant amount. For theft exceeding sixty thousand dollars, the base sentence is ten years. For every four thousand two hundred dollars beyond that, the sentence increases by one month. A hundred-thousand-dollar television would result in a sentence of almost eleven years.”

“What?!” Lady Wilson gasped. “Eleven years for stealing a TV? That’s terrifying!”

“Fortunately, Donald didn’t call the police!” she exclaimed. “Otherwise, at my age, I’d likely die in prison!”

Inside, Jacob Wilson and Harold, lying in bed, were also terrified. Harold trembled, and Christopher, noticing damp sheets beside him, asked, “Harold… you… why did you wet the bed?”

Harold whispered, his face contorted, “Dad, I’m scared. Eleven years for stealing a TV is terrifying.”

Christopher sighed, “It’s scary, but don’t wet the bed! You’ve soaked my pants!”

Harold’s voice choked. “Dad… I’m sorry… I couldn’t help it… I promise it won’t happen again.”

Christopher nodded wearily. “Listen to the officers outside first. Your grandmother called the police over two hundred dollars! If we accidentally mention selling the TV, we could all be implicated.”

Lady Wilson panicked. She hadn’t realized two hundred dollars wasn’t enough to file a report, but that her family’s theft and sale of Donald’s TV could result in over ten years in prison. This terrified her.

The officer, noticing her distress, assumed she was simply angry. “And?” he prompted.

Lady Wilson sighed. “Fine, it’s cheap for that son of a bitch!”

The officer nodded. “If that’s all, we’ll leave.”

Wendy arrived with a marriage certificate. “Officer, the marriage certificate is for you.”

Lady Wilson exclaimed, “What do you need a marriage certificate for? Send some officers down!”