Sunset in a small town

Chapter 3

“Well since the Sheriff told me he was going to introduce me to the Mayor first thing this morning, I take it you father is the Mayor?” JR says to me as he comes up on my left.

“He is indeed.” I reply.

“So your dad is the Mayor and your brother-in-law is the sheriff. Are you related to anyone else powerful?” JR says with a laugh.

“Well my aunt is the principal at the elementary school. Does that count?” I say

“Ya know I think it does.” he says with a smile.

Since City Hall is right next door to the Police Station the walk is very short. As we walk through the front door of city hall Nina lets out a squeal of happiness. 

“Mrs. Shelly! I brought you a pink carnation!” Nina says as she lets go of Roger’s hand and runs to hug my father’s administrative assistant.

“Mornin’ Shell” Roger says “Is the boss man here?” 

“In his office, not busy yet, you came at a good time. Who is this?” Shelly replies.

“This is the newest addition to the force here in Boulder Springs, Detective JR Peters.” Roger says as we move past Shelly’s desk. 

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Shelly is it?” JR says as he extends his hand to her. 

“Nice to meet you too!” Shelly says with a smile. 

“Come on Mr. Detective Man you gotta meet my papa!” Nina says reaching for JR’s hand. 

“Nina, honey, manners.” I say sternly.

She instantly drops his hand and starts to correct herself. 

“I’m sorry, I know some people don’t like to be touched.. May I hold your hand?” she looks up at JR for a response. 

He nods and she grabs his hand again and starts to lead him to my father’s office. 

“I brought cookies for y’all, Shell. I’m gonna leave them on dad’s table.” I say as I follow the other three to my dad’s office. 

Nina knocks on the door, but opens it before my dad responds.

“Papa, we have a new police man!” She says as she enters his office. 

My dad stands up and starts to move around his desk. 

“Oh do we?” he asks her. 

“Yes…. but I forgetted his name” she says as she drops his hand, obviously feeling bad.

JR pats her on the head and says “That’s okay sweetie” then looks up at my dad “Detective Jonathan Peters, but I like to go by JR.” 

“Well, nice to meet you JR.” My dad says “I knew you were coming to see me with Roger here, but I wasn’t expecting a visit from my lovely daughter or the future mayor” he says smiling at me and then to Nina.

“Papa, we had to work out a bud-get issue this morning with the council for new crayons.” Nina says taking over the conversation. “It was a 4 to 1 vote to take the problem to mommy.”

“4 to 1?!” He says enthusiastically to encourage her “Who voted against it?”

“Mr. Fox, he thinks we need a new tea set, the rest of us think crayons are more needed.” Nina says fully confident. 

Roger leans over to me and whispers “You know you raised a weirdo right?” He says with a small laugh

“There are worse hobbies for a child like say “fake” haircuts for example.” I shoot back with a smirk. 

The smile leaves his face and he stiffins “I swear her mom put her up to that, he says under his breath.”

“You needed a haircut anyway.” My dad says to Roger obviously catching our conversation. 

JR is standing next to my dad with a very confused look on his face. 

“Little Nina is going to be mayor one day.” My dad says to JR. 

“I mentioned she had a thing with favorites, she also has a small obsession with local government as well.” I say to him, filling him in on the odd exchange he just witnessed with my daughter recapping the city council meeting she had with her stuffed animals this morning. “And Roger here, for some reason finds  a 4-year-old with an interest in government, odd,  despite the fact that his 6-year-old accidentally gave him a haircut because she has a beauty salon intrest.”  

“Ahh” he says coming to speed. “Didn’t that happen in a 90s tv show?”

“Yes! Which is exactly why I think her mom put her up to it!” Roger says excitedly. 

“Anyway, I gotta get Nina to camp. Dad I brought you cookies since I was bringing some over this way already.” I say remembering I have places to be.

“Chocolate Chip Uncle Jur’s favorite!” Nina says. 

“We’ve also got somewhere to be.” Roger says gesturing to himself and JR. “ Just wanted you to meet your newest citizen.” 

“Thank you for coming to see me JR. You should come to our family’s Sunday dinner this weekend, I’d love to get to know you! That okay, Dot?”

“Of course it is dad! You know there’s always plenty of space at the table in my house!” I say as Nina and I are headed out the door. “Get the details from Roger, JR! We would love to have you! Bye everyone!” 

Nina and I hurry out of town hall so she can get to camp on time.