Reggie’s Rookie Blues

Reggie is a deputy in a small country town from a neighboring state. He’s been on the force for a long time and he usually enjoys his work but these past few weeks have been stressful. Reggie’s been training a rookie, something he’s done without complaint several times over the course of his career, but to hear him tell it, this guy has him thinking hard about retirement. According to Reggie, the trainee is an intense, well-meaning young man but, unfortunately, he is also a little slow around the bases.

For the sake of everyone involved, we’re going to call this young man, Clyde. The other day Reggie took his young protégée by the local fish house for lunch. It’s a popular little tourist stop on the way to Branson. The two of them were at the counter and Reggie was paying the bill when a tourist standing beside them suddenly looked outside and hollered, “Hey, somebody’s stealing my car!”

“I’m on it, sir!” Clyde hollered at Reggie and started running out the door alongside the car’s owner.

By the time Reggie made it outside he found his brand new officer taking a statement from the distressed tourist.

“It’s all right,” the rookie said when he saw Reggie. “I’m doing everything by the book, sir, just like you taught me.”

“That’s good to hear,” Reggie said. “Did you get a description of the guy before he got away?”

“Oh, no sir, I didn’t bother with that,” Clyde said.

“You didn’t bother getting his description?” Reggie asked through his teeth.

“No, sir. But don’t worry, sir. I got something even better!”

“You did,” Reggie said. “And what, pray tell, might that be?”

Clyde smiled at the owner of the stolen car, looked back at Reggie and stuck his chest out proudly. “Well, sir,” he said, “While that fellow thought he was getting away in this here lady’s car, I was memorizing the vehicle’s license plate number!”

Hugs,
Shellie