Laura parked her car in front of the Police Department, and ran inside.

"Hey, Parker," she said to the man at the dispatcher's desk.

"Hello, Laura," he replied. "You're Dad's out on patrol, but he should be back soon. Were you supposed to meet him here?"

"No, sir, I just needed to see him for a minute." She leaned on the counter, hoping that Parker would get the hint and tell her she could come on back. She knew he would, eventually. Very rarely was she refused and then it was only becuase they were fixing to bring a prisoner in or out, or a state offical was there. Today, however, Parker was being slow. The Chief wasn't though.

"Laura Leighanne," he called from his office. "Please quit leaning on my counter before you topple over on your pretty little head. Come on back, if that's what you're wanting. In fact, do come here. I need to have a word with you."

She smiled at Parker as she walked back to Chief Gilespie and Virgil Tibb's office.

"Well, now," Bill said when she appeared in the doorway. "There is a beautiful and properly dressed young lady. That's what young lady's wore in my day. Looks nice and dignified."

She blushed and smiled at his unusual compliment. It was probably true. The dress really belonged to her grandmother, but she had found it, thought it was pretty and feminine, so she liberated it from the trunk in the attic and started wearing it..

"Well, except for the purple fingernails," he continued. "Come in, have a seat." He pulled a chair up to his desk.

"I like my purple fingernails," she laughed, sitting down in the offered chair. "Purple is dignified. It's the color of royalty. Hi, Mr. Tibbs."

"Hi, Laura," he replied.

"What word did you want to have with me?" she asked the Chief.

"Several of them, actually. I heard you aren't doing very well in school lately."

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'm not doing that badly, Chief. Daddy's just griping cause my grades aren't what they usually are."

"Why is that?"

"Cause I just don't get math or science this year."

"How are your other grades?"

"Aces." It tickled her that the Chief was so concerned over her.

"And the other two?"

"'C' in science, 'D' in Algebra."

"Hmm, you'd better bring those up before report cards," he advised.

"Duh!" She hadn't meant to be disrespectful, but it just slipped out. Virgil couldn't contain his laughter.

Bill didn't say anything about it, just smiled. "Now are you sure this recent lack of interest in 'getting' math or science has nothing to do with that boy that's been buzzing around you?" He gave her a knowing look.

She blushed again. "How did you know about him?"

"Ain't anything secret in this town, girl, you know that."

"Yeah, I know. But, no, if anything, he a reason to try harder, cause if I get an 'F' during the week Daddy makes me stay home and study on Saturday," she replied.

"Good policy."

"How did I know you were going to agree with him?" she questioned.

"Because if more parents did things like that, then my jail wouldn't be full of drunk teenagers sleeping it off Sunday morning. But I want to know more about this boy. Who is he?"

"Thomas Jay Sanders."

"Thomas Jay? Don't think I know him. Is he from here?"

"No, his family just moved here from Shreveport, Louisiana. His daddy is foreman over at the textile plant."

"I see. What's he like?" He was used to having to ask question after question to get Laura talking.

"He's nice, and he's really cute, and he's smart, and he's a senior." She twirled her hair around her fingers.

"Is that all?"

She giggled, "Chief, that's a lot."

"Oh, really?"



Lonnie and Sweet came through the door about then.

"Jamison, Laura's here," Parker reported, needlessly. "She's back there talking to the Chief."

Lonnie had seen her car outside, and he could see her in the office.

"Parker, there is only one bright yellow t-top Z-28 Camaro in Sparta. If it's outside, then I'm pretty sure Laura is in here."

"Well, I was just telling you," Parker shrugged.

"Oh, there's Daddy," Laura said, looking up. She hugged Bill quickly. Then with a, "Bye, Chief, bye, Mr. Tibbs," she started to leave.

"Remember what I said about your grades," Bill called after her.

She looked back at him and nodded before disappearing out the door.

Virgil looked at him and with a mischievous smiled, said, "Duh!"

"Hey, Daddy." She wrapped her arms around Lonnie's waist, hugging him.

"Hey, Sweetheart," he replied, returning her hug. He brushed her hair back from her forehead. "What are you doing here?"

She let go of him to pull a piece of paper from her bag. "I need you to sign this, and you'll be asleep when I leave for school tomorrow, and well, I could sign your name to it, but Chief Gillespie says that's illegal. So I thought I'd better come by and let you sign your name to it."

"What is this?" He asked as he took the paper from her.

"A permission slip, saying I have your permission to go to the game with Mr. Anderson. He's making everyone in Band get one signed," she answered. "Hi, Sweet."

"Hey, Shortstuff," Sweet replied. "How you doing?"

"Okay." She smiled at him, before turning her attention back to Lonnie. "Are you going to come tomorrow night?"

"Probably." He knew he was off. He gave her the signed permission slip back. "What are you fixing to do?"

"Go home. Do my homework, eat, and go to bed. When will you be home?"

"Probably around one or two," He replied. "And I expect you to be asleep when I get there."

"Yes, sir," she giggled. "I don't plan being awake, anyway. I got to go. I've got tons of homework to do."

"Bye, Darling." He kissed her on the forehead.

"Bye, Daddy." She hugged once more, before waving at everyone else and leaving.