Wrong Answer

(5)

The two officers explained the problem to me from their perspective: they had answered a call from the folks upstairs who claimed that I had kicked their door for no apparent reason. They wanted to hear my side of the story.

I told them that I had indeed kicked their door, but that I had done the dastardly deed after much provocation in the form of stomps just above me.

There followed much discussion of details. The officers and I arrived at somewhat of a 'rule of behavior' such that if those folks upstairs continued to stomp (or drop heavy objects like bowling balls) above me I would call the ACSD. I pointed out to them that this behavior was almost a daily thing and that if I called the ACSD every time I had a problem with the folks upstairs it would 'get to be very old.'

As those two cops stood there listening to me and probing me with questions it became clear to me that they were both very cognizant of my voice recorder which was faithfully recording the situation, red light on.

The break in the situation came at the point where the senior officer asked me to bring my wife into the discussion.

I advised the officer that it was a bad idea to involve Kootch in view of the fact that she was watching her Broncos. He insisted on disturbing poor Kootch. I opened her door and advised her that there was somebody who wanted to speak to her. I introduced her to the cop. He asked her if she had heard any unusual noises recently. Kootch replied, looking from him to me, 'Running?'

Wrong answer.