My Brother-in-law & other stories
By Johnny S. Novera

Lost & found

Tony, my friend and colleague in the club, is a soft-spoken man. It was for the first time that I saw him very mad.

Hey, what happened, I asked. As club president, I visited him to get an update of his committee's preparation for the Mutya ng Dagat selection that he chairs for the Seafood Festival next week.

“Before we discuss our club business, please accompany me first to the Police Station. Imagine, I lost last night my new red T-shirt at the clothesline in our backyard.” Tony explained.

When we arrived at the Police Station Tony was taken aback when he saw the police sargeant wearing his red T-shirt! “Sarge, where did you get the red T-shirt? It is mine.” Tony said.

“Why, this was given to me by Poldo early this morning. Wait here, I'll pick up this boy. Why should he gift me with something that is stolen?”

The police sargeant was back in no time, as Poldo's house is just at the back corner. He was literally lifting Poldo by his shirt.

“Here's your man. What do you want me to do with him?” The sargeant asked Tony.

“Lock him up in jail, Sarge, I'll file charges to teach him a lesson.” Tony replied.

We went to Baybay Beach after that to discuss the committee's preparations and had lunch there. After lunch, we went back to the city. It was almost 2:00 p.m. when I dropped Tony at his house by my car. A policeman was waiting for him.

“Sir Tony,” the policeman said, “Sarge sent me to inform you that your prisoner has not eaten lunch. As you know, sir, the police has no more budget and you are to bring him meals while he is detained in jail.”

“Jan,” Tony asked me, “can we come back to the Police Station? I'll just try to fix this.”

When we arrived, he asked the Desk if he can get inside the cell to talk with the detainee alone. I remained at the sargeant's desk as he followed the jail guard to the cell. Then he was left alone with the detainee for a while.

He came back in a couple of minutes and told the Desk. “Sarge. You can release Poldo now. I am no longer interested in filing charges.”

Why did you change your mind about filing the case? What happened? I asked as we were driving home. “Well, I just taught him a lesson he can never forget. I hit him very hard on the stomach three times and he is still sprawled over there on the cement floor. No more charges.”