Part 3: Chapter 2

Lydia and Jonathan were walking to Karen's Café.

"I can't believe Chase got stood up by that social worker," Lydia said.

"I know," Jonathan said. "I have half a mind to confront her about it."

"And say what?" Lydia asked.

"You mean social worker," Jonathan said. "How dare you stand my daddy up?"

"Yeah," Lydia said sarcastically. "Real cute coming from a 16-year-old."

"You think I'm cute?" Jonathan asked.

Jonathan and Lydia began to kiss.

"Um, excuse me?" a lady asked. "You two making out in front of the driveway?"

Jonathan and Lydia stopped kissing and turned around to see a young woman with cardboard boxes full of household items standing by a moving van.

"I'll give you each $20 if you help me load the van," the woman said.

Lydia and Jonathan helped the woman load the moving van. Afterward, the woman paid them and drove off. As Lydia and Jonathan walked off, a family consisting of a mother, a father, and two little girls pulled into the driveway. Lydia and Jonathan stopped and looked as the family got out.

"Excuse me?" Lydia asked nervously. "Is this your house?"

"Yes," the mother said. "Why?"

"You see," Jonathan said nervously. "There was this woman with cardboard boxes of household things who asked us to help her load a moving van and gave us each $20."

The family ran into the house and the mother ran back out screaming.

"Our house has been burglarized!" the mother screamed.

The mother called the police and the police arrived within minutes.

"Okay," Lydia said. "We can describe the woman who tricked us into helping her."

"She had short red hair," Jonathan said.

"And blue eyes," Lydia said.

"Okay," an officer said.

"I'm pressing charges," the mother said.

"Of course," the officer said. "If and when we catch the burglar, we will charge her with breaking and entering and theft."

"No!" the mother said pointing at Lydia and Jonathan. "I want to press charges on them!"

"But we didn't know!" Lydia said.

"I'm afraid we'll have to take you guys in," the officer said. "I'm sorry."

"Oh you are so on my list of people I hate lady!" Lydia shouted.

"Come with me," the officer said. "I don't want to have to handcuff you guys."

Jonathan got into the back of the police car and Lydia followed, continuing to yell at the mother.

"You've lost a chance of having a great friend!" Lydia shouted before getting into the back seat of the police car. "And I make great homemade birthday cards! I even write original poems!"