Random One-Shots

Police Come Knocking

Back before I was even a real cop, I'd already found out the worst part about being a cop. See, I'd been delivering coffee, when I overheard someone say 'Sinolim'. So I'd asked, checking if I'd heard right, and sure enough, 'oh, really? That's my uncle's brother-in-law!'

Me and my big mouth... See the worst part about being a cop, is having to drive over to someone's house, knock on their front door, and let them know that part of their intimate family, is gone. Forever. So obviously nobody wants to do it. So obviously if there's anybody even remotely related. That's who they'll give the job to.

They say it's to make it a better gesture, when really, it's because nobody wants the job. As soon as nobody's related everyone finds ridiculous things, to make sure, that they don't have to go. 'Oh, Yeah, but... John- Yeah John talked to him in the supermarket once. Yeah, real deep conversation. You should send him!'

So while my big mouth got me a real job... it also got me stuck on my in-law Uncle's front porch. Letting them know, that a tragedy had struck. Their son wasn't coming home.

After that, I said I'd never, Ever, do it again.

And here I am. In a cop car, on my way, once again, to give the news. Karl and I were a new team, we just met but we'd already bonded over the job. Yes, in the minute or so we'd been in the stuffy car.

Karl was obviously uncomfortable, and obviously trying to hide that fact. But we were both just about ready to burst into tears. Full grown men. Bursting into tears. Over a stupid job.

So we tried to lighten up. I told him about how when my boss had called me in, I was praying I wasn't getting let go, when he told me I'd have to go let a family know the news. "I'd have rather gotten fired." I finished my story and we both chuckled, looking away to blink away tears.

"So, uh..." After a moment of silence and some sniffling, Karl broke the tension, "Do you think he has- uh, had- has kids?" He stumbled through the tense, not knowing how to put it. I don't mention it.

"I betcha he didn't."

"Five bucks?"

I looked him over through the corner of my eye, both of our misery forgotten. "Twenty."

"Alright, how about a wife?"

"Definitely."

"Agreed."

"Any pets?"

"We're here." I blink, and glance forward as he pulls up the drive. My misery returns as we exit the vehicle.

We step up to the door, and Karl elbows me in the ribs as a friendly reminder not to cry, also to take off my hat. We both stand there as dignified as it's possible for two grown men to silently argue over who was to knock, before Karl reaches forward and rings the doorbell.

"I rang, you get to talk," he hisses out quickly, but as I vehemently begin to respond the door opens.

It's a lady in her mid-fortys, a baby on her hip, a kid attached to her leg. In the background we can hear kids screaming, and we see multiple run past behind the woman, muddy, and laughing.

At first I'm sure we have the wrong house, but as I apologize, and explain who were looking for, her face blanches, and she says in almost a whisper that we are speaking to her.

I kind of blank out. But later I would remember something about 'Ma'am, we're so sorry,"  but her "husband wouldn't be returning home.'

I would remember her almost collapsing, and the kid on her leg let go and toddled off, wailing, upset her mom was ignoring her. I would remember apologizing multiple times, and offering any help if she would need.

As we walked off, and I got back in the car with Karl, he spoke once more. In a voice almost like he wanted the teasing we'd had earlier to return, but knew it wouldn't. His voice was weak, as we were both still slightly in shock. "You owe me twenty bucks."