Sunshine Valley

Open to the public

     A special alert popped up on Evie’s calendar. She had received an invitation from Dillon to tour the sheriff’s office. The school was doing classroom tours. And the office was open to select members of the public, press and the like. She replied with  her standard 💕. 

     The class that Dillon was speaking with just happened to be Mrs. Ledbetter’s. Evie was at the back with another teacher and a city cop. Dillon talked as they stopped in the room where the cells were.

     One little boy asked above the group, “if you are the sheriff; that means you’re the boss?”

     “Yes.”

     “So why do we see that other man on t.v. all the time? My mom says he looks like a turtle.”

     Dillon lowered his head trying so hard not to laugh. He finally said, “ I would like for everyone to close their eyes. When I ask you a question, raise your hands to answer.” He waited a minute for the children to close their eyes. “This room that you’re standing in, is there one cell?” 2 children raised their hands. “Two of you raised your hands. Are there 2 cells in this room?” He waited. “Most of you raised your hands. Keep your eyes closed, how many of you think there are 3 cells in this room?” He looked up and saw Evie, winking at her. “Four of you raised your hands. Now open your eyes.”

     The same little boy that asked the original question trumpeted, “2, I was right!”

     “But not all of you agreed on that at first. The reason Deputy Banks is the one you see and hear all the time is because it’s best to have one person do all the talking. We meet, gather all the information we know, then tell the public what we know. So there isn’t so much confusion.”

     “My dad says the sheriff’s department is fucking useless and y’all need to hire Sunshine Sue.”

     “Richard!” Mrs. Ledbetter scolded. 

     The other children in the group laughed at Richard’s cus word. 

     Bradley was standing in the back of the room. He put his hand over his mouth, to hide his smile. 

     Dillon cleared his throat, “the sheriff’s office has laws that we have to follow. Those same laws that we have to abide by, sadly don’t apply to Sunshine Sue?”

    A little girl spoke up, “my mom says you should be on t.v. more, you look delicious.”

     Dillon swallowed hard, looking up at Evie. She was smiling from ear to ear, then winked at him. 

     “That’s the end of the tour.” He smiled. “Any more questions?”

     “I would like to ask,” Mrs. Ledbetter opened her mouth about the time a camera shutter went off. It was a reporter from the Sunshine Daily. Then she remembered, last year, she was allowed to have Simon meet her and take the tour with her. ‘Members of the press and select public’. Evelyn must be this year’s ‘select public’. Come to think of it, this was the first time she’d ever seen the sheriff active in the tours. 

     The reporter asked everyone to gather for a picture. She even gathered the adults standing in the back to come around. Dillon motioned for Evie to come stand beside him, on his left side. As she did, he put his arm around her waist. The city cop stood with Bradley. And the other teacher with Rebecca. “How would you kids like to do a fun one?” They all shouted. She looked at Rebecca, “is it okay?” She nodded yes. 

     Some of the children acted like they were trying to break out of the cells. Some posed as if they were fighting. One little girl set on the floor like she was crying. Richard, the boy that dropped the f- bomb, looked like he had his foot on another boys chest. He stood over the boy like a proud hunter standing over a buck. Bradley and the city cop held up their hands like they were handcuffed to each other; with a look of confusion on their faces. The teachers looked defeated, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Dillon pulled Evie over to him, caught her in his left arm and kissed her as the camera clicked the picture. 

Sunshine Valley