“Not our normal beat,” remarked Officer Daniels as he let the patrol car glide to a stop in front of a multi-million dollar mansion.

“Parents could at least pay some one to make sure their kids gets to school.” His partner, Officer Grant, grabbed the sheaf of paperwork from the dashboard, and they started walking up the long drive to the house.

The man who answered the door was barely dressed, and entirely drunk.

“Do you know where your son is, sir?” Daniels asked.

“Aspen? I dunno.” The man slurred his words, leaned against the door to stay upright. “Wait. Is that next week? What’s this about?”

Grant held out the paperwork for the man to take. He waved it away like a fly. “You’re son’s been suspended, for being truant.”

The man answered with a guffaw. “So what? He’s got a trust fund like me. What the hell’s he care about school?”

“Least that’s a different answer.” Grant said to Daniels with a shrug.

“What’s this got to do with me?”

“In this city, parents are responsible for a child’s attendance. See, the school board suspends him. And us? We arrest you.” Daniels said, holding up the handcuffs.

Memphis Note
In Memphis, parents are held accountable for their child’s school attendance. If your kid misses too many days with out explanation, the truant officer is going to come looking for you.