by Gayle Trent
That was about all we had time to say to each other because the press and the M.E.L.O.N.S. started straggling in after that. Faye even took a couple hours off from work and brought Sunny. Faye said it wouldn’t hurt Sunny to go to school a little late today.
Coop had chairs set up in a semi-circle behind him, and he stood at a podium. He looked so nice in his uniform…not a single hair out of place…those baby blue eyes of his just made for television….
Mac, Sunny, Faye, and the M.E.L.O.N.S. sat in the chairs behind him and then Cooper began the press conference at nine o’clock on the dot.
“Good morning,” he said. “Thank you all for coming here this morning. I won’t take up too much of your time. As some of you might be aware, an identity thief had taken up residence here in Backwater, and we only discovered it due to the observation and diligence of Ms. Myrtle Crumb. “ He turned and grinned at me. “Ms. Crumb, would you please stand?”
I stood up as straight and tall as I could, lifting my chin proudly.
“Our community owes you a debt of gratitude, Ms. Crumb. Thank you for calling this matter to the attention of our department. It’s the involvement of citizens like you who make a difference not only in Backwater but all over the world. Thank you.” He nodded, and I sat back down.
He also thanked Melvia, Faye, Sunny, and “the wonderful M.E.L.O.N. organization” for their help in solving this crime and for volunteering to help the people of Backwater. He then went on to praise Mac for his role in ferretting out the criminals. He turned back to face the press.
“Mrs. Doris Philips and Homer Jackson were taken into custody late yesterday afternoon. Both parties have been charged with identity theft, fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and check forgery. Mr. Philips and other members of the Jackson family have been cleared of any related charges.”
I was glad Frank was innocent. I couldn’t get over Doris fooling nearly everybody with that Goodie-Two-Shoes routine of hers. On the other hand, I reckoned we all want to think the best of folks.
As soon as the press conference ended, we M.E.L.O.N.S. got the soups, biscuits, and cornbread ready for the lunch crowd. I was a little surprised to see Heather walking in with a scraggly little man who didn’t look to be but a year or two older than her.
When she spotted me, Elizabeth grabbed that man’s bony arm and came running toward me as hard as she could.
“Look! Look! It’s our Daddy! He’s back!” she squealed.
“I’m pleased as punch to meet you,” I said to the man. And I truly was. He still had some things to answer to the police for, but he’d come back to his babies. That meant a lot in my eyes.
About the Author
Gayle Trent is a full-time writer who lives in Southwest Virginia with her family and a Great Pyrenees she calls “the world’s largest toddler.” Please visit Gayle online at http://www.gayletrent.com.