"Must they have resorted to amputating your arm?" Katie inquires, catching Logan off guard with her unsettling question.
Logan, taken aback by her inquiry, responds, "No, and I must say, I don't appreciate the way you phrased that. After all, this is an urgent care facility, not a hospital. Surgical procedures are not performed here."
"I am aware of that, just trying to lighten the mood and make you feel better. You always say laughter is the best medicine," Katie explains.
"Indeed, but your dark sense of humor is a bit worrying. I have no idea where you get it from," Logan replies.
"Apologies," Katie mutters.
"It's alright, Katie. It's the thought that counts," Logan reassures her.
Upon their return to the Palm Woods, the group notices two police cars parked outside. One of them belongs to Officer Garcia.
"Why is my Papi here?" Carlos asks, looking puzzled but happy to see him. He quickly jumps out of the car and runs towards Officer Garcia, only to be stopped by another officer he doesn't recognize. "Excuse me, why did you push me?" Carlos asks politely, feeling a bit annoyed by the officer's actions.
"You're getting too close to a crime scene. Step back!" the officer replies, his tone filled with anger.
"That's no reason to push me. My Papi is a police officer, and I live here with my friends," Carlos explains.
"I don't believe you. You're just trying to act like you're in charge. I'm the adult here, not you. You're just a pesky teenager who thinks lying about your dad will get you out of trouble. Leave now, or I'll arrest you for interfering with a police investigation," the officer says angrily.
Carlos lets out a sigh and walks away.
Upon their return to the Palm Woods, the group notices two police cars parked outside. One of them belongs to Officer Garcia.
"Why is my Papi here?" Carlos asks, looking puzzled but happy to see him. He quickly jumps out of the car and runs towards Officer Garcia, only to be stopped by another officer he doesn't recognize. "Excuse me, why did you push me?" Carlos asks politely, feeling a bit annoyed by the officer's actions.
"You're getting too close to a crime scene. Step back!" the officer replies, his tone filled with anger.
"That's no reason to push me. My Papi is a police officer, and I live here with my friends," Carlos explains.
"I don't believe you. You're just trying to act like you're in charge. I'm the adult here, not you. You're just a pesky teenager who thinks lying about your dad will get you out of trouble. Leave now, or I'll arrest you for interfering with a police investigation," the officer says angrily.
Carlos lets out a sigh and walks away.
"What's the matter, Carlos? Why are there police officers here? Is your father present?" Kendall inquires.
"Yes, he's here, but that rude officer over there was quite unpleasant to me. He pushed me," Carlos explains.
"He pushed you?!" Kendall exclaims, becoming upset and defensive of his friend.
"Yes. I informed him that I reside here with you all and that my Papi is a police officer, but he didn't believe me. He stated that I am the child and he is the adult. He claimed that fabricating my Papi's profession does not excuse the disrespectful behavior he accused me of. Then he proceeded to call me a bothersome and irritating teenager. He even threatened to arrest me for supposedly obstructing a police investigation," Carlos recounts. "I am unsure of what I did wrong. I simply wanted to greet my Papi."
"I need to go inside to unwind. What could be the reason for the police presence?" Logan remarks.
"I have no clue, but they must allow us to pass," James asserts.
"What if they refuse?" Katie questions.
"This is troubling. What if a serious crime has occurred?" Camille ponders.
"If that is the case, it may be a while before the police depart," Jo speculates.
"I am confident that if we display a modicum of respect, the authorities will graciously allow us to proceed," Ms. Knight asserts.
" Mama Knight, I simply cannot bestow any respect upon the officer who callously pushed me and accused me of fabricating the truth about my Papi's profession as a police officer. I demand an apology from him," Carlos declares.
"I understand your sentiments, my dear. You were subjected to such abhorrent treatment by that officer," Ms. Knight sympathizes.
"I truly need to recline. My shoulder and head are throbbing with pain," Logan expresses.
"Very well, Logie," Carlos responds. "I shall carry you indoors."
"No!" Logan firmly but tenderly interjects. "Not again. I am capable of walking, Carlos. I will be fine."
"You are merely uttering those words to alleviate my concern for you," Carlos remarks, yet he complies with Logan's request.
They all proceed towards the entrance of the illustrious Palm Woods. However, their progress is halted by Mr. Bitters.
"You shall not proceed any further!" he exclaims. "Officers, these culprits are present! They are attempting to trespass and evade arrest!" he accuses.
Logan and Carlos exchange perplexed glances, then direct their attention back to Mr. Bitters.
The officer who had been discourteous to Carlos proceeds to handcuff him and forcefully pushes him into a police vehicle.
"What is happening?! Papi, please come to my aid!" Carlos cries out, filled with fear and confusion.
"Silence! I explicitly warned you against deceiving me about your father's occupation!" the officer bellows, before forcefully slamming the car door shut.
Officer Garcia approaches, unaware that Carlos is already confined within the squad car. "What is transpiring here? Did I just hear my son?" he inquires, walking towards the commotion.
Merely dealing with an insolent adolescent, who happens to be one of the perpetrators responsible for the crime that has unfolded in this vicinity. His cohorts shall face the consequences in due course." The officer articulates, his grip on Katie's wrists tightening as he proceeds to restrain her with handcuffs.
"Ouch! You're causing me pain! Cease this at once!" She shrieks, utterly bewildered as to why he would handle a child with such force.
"Remove your hands from my little sister immediately!" Kendall interjects, enveloping Katie in a protective embrace.
"Never again shall you lay a finger on my daughter!" Ms. Knight asserts, her tone mirroring Kendall's fury.
"What is the meaning of this, Officer Davis?! I am acquainted with these youngsters. I have known them for years. Have you done something to my son?! I cannot locate him anywhere!" Officer Garcia exclaims.
"He apprehended Carlos and confined him within a police vehicle," Logan discloses.
"That is false!" Officer Davis retorts. "You are next in line for arrest!"
"No, refrain from touching me. I have a delicate shoulder," Logan pleads.
"Fear not, for I shall shield you," James declares, adopting a protective stance in front of him.
"I shall contact Carlos. It will put my mind at ease to ascertain his whereabouts," Officer Garcia states, dialing the number. A loud, albeit muffled, rendition of the Spongebob theme song resonates. "Indeed, that is Carlos," he remarks, searching for the origin of the sound and opening the nearest squad car. To his astonishment, he discovers Carlos, his face stained with tears, handcuffed within.
"Why is my son restrained in the back of your vehicle?!" He bellows at Officer Davis.
"Wait, he truly is your son? He is not merely a mischievous troublemaker?" Officer Davis inquires, his confusion evident.
"A troublemaking miscreant? How dare you label him as such!" Officer Garcia retorts, promptly assisting Carlos out of the car and removing the handcuffs.
"Oh, Papi, I am utterly bewildered and frightened at this moment!" Carlos exclaims, embracing his father tightly, seeking solace and security.
"I need a really good explanation for all of this right now. What's your name? Officer Davis? Who gave you the order to handcuff Carlos and try to catch the other kids, including my daughter?" Ms. Knight demands.
"The manager of the Palm Woods, Mr. Bitters," Officer Davis replies.
"He's telling the truth, Ms. Knight. Mr. Bitters stopped me and Carlos and told the officers that we're the ones responsible for whatever crime happened here. We have absolutely no idea what he's talking about. All I want is to finally go inside and relieve this pain I'm feeling," Logan says, frustrated.
"Don't worry, you'll get some rest soon, I promise," Ms. Knight assures him before turning to Officer Davis. "You should be ashamed of yourself for abusing your power as a police officer and being cruel to children!"
"I was just following orders. Maybe you should learn to keep your mouth shut," Officer Davis responds rudely.
"You shouldn't speak to my mom like that! You shouldn't speak to any woman like that!" Kendall defends his mother.
"You shut your mouth too, you delinquent!" Officer Davis yells.
Officer Garcia blows his whistle to get their attention. "That's enough, Officer Davis. I'll talk to Mr. Bitters and try to sort this out," he says, then looks at Carlos. "Stay here, mijo." He goes inside to the front desk. "Mr. Bitters, why did you call the police? What crime occurred here? Do you feel unsafe?"
"Unsafe? No, I'm not in danger, but I've been robbed. That's why I called. Your incompetent son and his stupid friends are thieves," Mr. Bitters explains.
His harsh words pierce through Officer Garcia's remaining patience and composure. Anger boils up inside him as he glares at Mr. Bitters, disgusted by his disrespectful behavior.
"Who released you from those handcuffs I witnessed being fastened onto you?" Mr. Bitters inquires with a hint of accusation. "You're nothing but a thief!"
"I am no thief!" Carlos retorts. "My father freed me because he knows I am innocent!"
"Let's use this chance to step outside," Officer Garcia interjects. "Do my team members have knowledge of what was stolen from you?"
"Yes, I reported a burglary at the pool shed," Mr. Bitters confirms.
"Alright, but what exactly was taken?" Officer Garcia probes.
"Why don't you ask your useless son?" Mr. Bitters taunts.
Frustrated with his insolence, Officer Garcia pounds his fist down on the front desk and confronts Mr. Bitters with a steely glare. "If you wish for my assistance in resolving this matter, you must cease insulting my son!" he demands.
"My opinion of him won't change," Mr. Bitters retorts defiantly.
Exasperated, Officer Garcia lets out a sigh and orders, "Let's head outside."
They all make their way back to the parking lot.
"Sending Kaie upstairs with Logan was a clever move on your part," Jo commends.
"I'm relieved that I made that decision. I don't want this encounter with the police to negatively impact Kaie's perception of law enforcement," Kendall responds. "The only officer she trusts is Officer Garcia. I feel the same way."
"Carlos, do you have any idea why Mr. Bitters suspects you, Kendall, James, and Logan as the main culprits and what was stolen from the pool shed?" Officer Garcia inquires.
"I am aware of what was taken, but it wasn't a theft," Carlos clarifies.
"What was it then?" Officer Garcia probes.
"Water balloons," Carlos reveals.
"Water balloons? Seriously?" Officer Garcia expresses disbelief.
"I wish I were joking, Papi, but I'm not. Earlier, James, Kendall, Logan, Camille, Jo, Katie, and I were engaged in a water balloon battle. James and I retrieved the water balloons from the pool shed with Buddha Bob's assistance. He didn't object to us using them. We filled them up in the lobby bathroom of Palm Woods and transported them in Buddha Bob's wagon, unknowingly being observed by Mr. Bitters. We arrived at Palm Woods Park to commence the water balloon battle, enjoying ourselves and laughing. Logan was targeting me, but I managed to evade him at the last moment, causing him to collide with a tree instead of aggravating his injured shoulder. Mr. Bitters, who appeared unexpectedly, accused all of us of stealing the water balloons, despite them being intended for all Palm Woods residents. He admitted his dislike for us and his refusal to allow us to have the water balloons. We had to leave to take Logan to urgent care to ensure his shoulder wasn't further injured. That's where we were returning from. Before departing for the clinic, Mr. Bitters warned us that this matter isn't over and that we will have to reimburse him for the water balloons," Carlos explains.
Angrily turns to face Mr. Bitters, his disappointment evident in his eyes. "You called the authorities over a mere display of water balloons? How preposterous! The boys did not commit any crime, they simply enjoyed their time at Palm Woods Park, engaging in the innocent and delightful summer activity of water balloon fights. How could they possibly be accused of theft? According to Carlos, the pool shed is stocked with items for the residents' use. Your personal dislike for him and his friends does not grant you the authority to label them as thieves. I have heard countless tales from Carlos about your unkind treatment towards the children and teenagers residing here! What troubles me the most is that ever since Carlos, Kendall, James, Logan, and Katie arrived at Palm Woods, you have made it your mission to make their lives miserable. Your animosity towards Ms. Knight and her wonderful family is utterly incomprehensible to me. Let me enlighten you on what will transpire next: you shall face charges for filing a false police report." Officer Garcia declared firmly.
"What?! This is preposterous!" Mr. Bitters protested, his voice filled with disbelief.
"You may voice your grievances, but you have brought this upon yourself," Officer Garcia responded sternly.
"Well said, sir," Officer Davis chimed in, showing his support for Officer Garcia's statement.
"But I am not finished. You, sir, are next. Do you believe that I will overlook what you have done to my son? You unjustly arrested him and callously threw him into the back of your police vehicle, and then you handled Katie with unnecessary force! Such behavior is absolutely unacceptable to me, and you shall face the consequences. It is evident that you have a tendency to abuse your power in public. Until you learn how to conduct yourself as a proper and law-abiding officer, you will be confined to desk duty, undergo sensitivity training, and endure a 30% reduction in your pay. Consider yourself fortunate that I am not terminating your employment altogether, for if you ever mistreat a child again, I will ensure that you are forever barred from any form of law enforcement! Do you comprehend the gravity of my words?" Officer Garcia's voice resonated with authority and determination.
Version 1:
"Yes, indeed. I comprehend completely." Officer Davis responds.
"Excellent, as I will not tolerate any disrespect within my team. Your duty is to serve and protect, not to make hasty judgments without verifying the facts first. I am deeply disappointed in you, Officer Davis, and you will need to put in a great deal of effort to regain my trust if you wish to return to patrol duty. I will inform you when I believe you have earned that privilege, but you still have much to learn about self-discipline, respect, and adherence to instructions. Mr. Bitters informed you that my son and his friends were involved in a robbery, yet you failed to follow the proper procedures. You did not give my son and his friends the opportunity to present their side of the story. Instead, you immediately dismissed my son's claim that I am a police officer, used derogatory language towards him, and what truly angers me the most is how you forcefully grabbed Katie's wrists, causing her to cry out in pain. She is not a troublemaker! I have known her since she was a baby, and she is a lovely little angel. How dare you handle a ten-year-old girl as if she were your adversary! It is utterly disgraceful!" Officer Garcia expresses.
"I deeply regret my actions. I should not have treated Carlos and Katie in such a manner. I assure you that I will strive to do better moving forward." Officer Davis acknowledges.
"Good to hear. However, since I still have reservations about trusting you completely, I will ensure that you are closely monitored by the most stringent officer at the precinct. He is a former navy captain, highly esteemed but demands absolute discipline. This means that you must adhere to his instructions without question." Officer Garcia states.
"I will comply." Officer Davis assures.
"Only time will reveal the truth." Officer Garcia responds skeptically of his sincerity.
"I am relieved that we have resolved this matter." Ms. Knight remarks.
"As am I, but it is individuals like Mr. Bitters who feel the need to waste police resources on trivial matters. I have a feeling we will be dealing with another minor and pointless issue in the near future." Officer Garcia predicts.
Knowing how unpleasant of a man Mr. Bitters is, unfortunately, you'll be back." Kendall sighs, feeling the weight of the situation.
Officer Garcia and his squad depart, leaving the scene.
"We should head upstairs. It's been a long day," Ms. Knight suggests, her voice filled with exhaustion.
The four of them enter the elevator, making their way up to Apartment 2J. Jo and Camille have already retreated to their own apartments by this time.
"How's Logan doing?" Kendall inquires, concern lacing his words.
"He's fine. He fell asleep right away after taking the medicine mom got from the pharmacy," Katie responds from the couch.
"Good," Kendall acknowledges, relieved to hear that Logan is resting peacefully.
Later that night, as everyone prepares for bed, a loud knock echoes through the apartment door, growing increasingly obnoxious.
Katie opens the door, her expression turning into a frown upon seeing Mr. Bitters. Without hesitation, she promptly shuts the door in his face, denying him the chance to speak.
"Who was it? Gustavo?" Kendall asks, puzzled by the situation.
"Worse. The devil," Katie replies, her voice filled with disdain.
"Huh?" Kendall responds, clearly confused.
Katie swings the door open once again, confronting Mr. Bitters directly. "I'm not the devil," he claims, walking into the apartment uninvited.
"Yeah, you are. You bring darkness and sadness wherever you go. Including right now. Get out of our apartment," Katie asserts, folding her arms and maintaining a stern expression.
"I came here for a very important reason," Mr. Bitters states, his tone suggesting urgency.
"It's already 9:30 in the evening. What could possibly be so urgent that you feel the need to interrupt our bedtime routine? It's quite clear that you despise us. You made that abundantly clear when you unjustly called the police on us earlier. And now you've just barged in without our permission. Please leave immediately!" Katie expresses her frustration.
"I've actually come here to apologize for my previous behavior," Mr. Bitters states.
"Sure, I highly doubt that," Katie responds, not believing him for a second.
"But it's the truth," Mr. Bitters insists.
"You really need to go," Kendall interjects. "We're preparing for bed. How many times do we have to say it?" He groans, clearly annoyed by Mr. Bitters' continuous presence.
"Those two don't seem tired at all," Mr. Bitters remarks, referring to James and Carlos who are engrossed in playing Mario Kart on the couch.
"We're simply unwinding. Maybe you should try it, considering how uptight you always are," Carlos retorts, not losing focus on the game.
"Boom! That was a sick burn!" James exclaims, fist-bumping Carlos.
"I didn't expect him to be so sharp with his words. He's usually quite pleasant," Mr. Bitters expresses surprise at Carlos' snappy remark.
"He's kind to those who show kindness in return. You've never been kind to him. He's giving you the same attitude that you give to every child and teenager living in the Palm Woods. Your brash and blunt demeanor won't make anyone waste their kindness on you. Do you understand? Now, for the last time, get out of our apartment!" Katie says, frustrated that he still hasn't left.
"You should really listen before she gets her nerf gun. She's really skilled with it. Trust me, you don't want her to demonstrate her skills," Logan warns.
"Fine, I'll leave," Mr. Bitters finally concedes and exits.
"Finally, he's gone," Katie says, locking the door. "If he dares to come back, I won't hesitate to use my nerf gun. He better stay away from us if he knows what's good for him."
"Please do that," James says excitedly.
"James, it's not wise to support her in wanting to use her nerf gun on Mr. Bitters just because they have a dislike for each other," Logan advises.
"But how else can we make Mr. Bitters stop bothering us? I can't stand his mean and nasty attitude towards everyone in the Palm Woods. We need to take action. Just because he's an adult doesn't mean he can get away with being a jerk. He's in charge here, not us. His constant name-calling and complaints about kids and teenagers are so irritating. He should find a job that suits him better," James argues.
"I understand that he's unbearable, but shooting him with nerf gun bullets is not the solution. It won't change anything. He'll still be a self-centered jerk who doesn't care about his actions," Logan counters.
"You're right, Logan, but someone needs to do something about him," James acknowledges.
"I'm too tired to continue this discussion. Let's all just go to bed," Logan suggests, yawning.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, a thunderstorm fills the sky and drenches the ground. Disturbed by the thunder, Katie struggles to fall back asleep. Remembering a relaxation technique Logan taught her, she switches on her bedside table lamp and reads one of her favorite comic books for about an hour. Eventually, she becomes completely oblivious to the storm outside and peacefully drifts back to sleep.
As the sun rises, the storm outside continues with relentless thunder and lightning. The boys and Katie make their way to the living room to watch TV.
"Why does it have to rain now? I was looking forward to swimming in the pool," Carlos complains, gazing out the window after opening the curtains and raising the blinds. "This weather is no fun at all."
"Do you not appreciate how beautiful flowers look in the sunlight?" Logan inquires, picking up a sudoku puzzle.
"I do, indeed," Carlos replies, unsure of where the conversation is headed.
"Well, flowers can't flourish without rain to nourish them. I'm sure you're aware of that, but it's worth remembering that rain isn't always a negative thing," Logan remarks, completing the sudoku puzzle in the brief span of their conversation.
"You're absolutely right, my friend. Rain isn't always a bad thing. And your ability to engage in conversation and solve that sudoku puzzle simultaneously is truly impressive. You've perfected the art of multitasking," Carlos says, fetching orange juice and cups from the kitchen to serve the group.