The boss pays Jimmy to cut the grass around the office building every Saturday. The mower belongs to Hazel, Jimmy’s mom, who’s a saleswoman for the company. Because it’s convenient, Jimmy stores the lawn mower under a tree behind the office.

This Saturday Jimmy arrives at the office ready to earn a few bucks cutting the grass.

Oops...no mower. Jimmy circles the building looking everywhere, but there’s no sign of the lawn mower.

Reluctantly, the 15-year-old steps inside the building to tell his mom. Hazel circles the building but finds no mower. "I can’t believe it’s gone," says Hazel. "Nobody ever steals anything around here." Back inside she calls the town police to report the theft of a lawn mower.

Patrick, a handsome young cop from the town police force, meets Hazel in the office break room. She pours a cup of coffee for herself and one for the officer. The incident report is soon completed and Patrick’s about ready to leave when Eddy, the sales manager, arrives for work.

Seeing a cop in the office, Eddy asks, "What’s up?"

"Somebody stole Miz Hazel’s lawn mower," says Patrick. "I’m taking the report."

Eddy laughs. "Hazel’s mower isn’t stolen, it’s in my back yard." Eddy continues, "Last week I parked my own mower in the driveway under my boat trailer. Later, when I drove off with the boat, my mower got crushed. So I borrowed Hazel’s mower to cut my grass."

The young cop smiles and winks at Hazel, then turns toward Eddy: "Careful what you say, Eddy, I just might have to read you your rights and put you on the ‘Most Wanted’ list."

Patrick is kidding, of course. Eddy returns the mower and young Jimmy finishes his Saturday morning chores.

Epilogue:

I must tell you that this incident happened last week at the office of a Call The Cops! subscribing newspaper. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Which newspaper? Sorry, I plead the Fifth Amendment on that.