Mistaken Identity

Hello All:
It's Friday which means that at some point this afternoon you will enter the door of your house and sigh a relief that the weekend is finally here. Wouldn't it be horrible if a situation like today's new story awaited you?
***
Have a great weekend!

Mistaken Identity

It was a Friday afternoon as George walked in to his house after a long day—and a long week—of work. His wife, Beth, sat on the sofa and watched TV while waiting for him. "Hi honey!" she greeted upon seeing George. "How was your day?"

"Oh it wasn't bad." answered George. "Not bad for Friday."

Just then, their four-year-old daughter, Angela rushed in the room. "Daddy!" she exclaimed. "You're home!" She ran up to Father and was immediately scooped up to be hugged.

"That's right; I'm home. So were you good today?"

"Yeah..." answered Angela

"Well I don't know..." teased Father "Maybe I should ask Mommy." George looked over to his wife, Beth, “What do you say Mommy? Was Angela good today?"

"Oh, yes. She was very good today."

"Well then I will let you pick where we go for dinner tonight." promised George to his daughter. "Where would you like to go?"

"McDonald's! excitedly answered Angela.y

Just then, the telephone rang. With Angela still in his arms, George walked over to the phone. "This is probably one of those annoying telemarketers." he griped before picking up the receiver. "Hello?"

A cold voice on the other end simply asked, "So what's up?"

"Excuse me?” answered George.

"Never mind that!" the cold voice warned. "What's going on? And where are you supposed to be?"

"Who is this?” challenged George.

"You know damned well who I am!" snapped the caller. "If you want to play that game, then this is your parole officer."

"Parole officer?" repeated George with a forced giggle. "I'm afraid you have the wrong number."

"No, I’m pretty sure I’ve got the right person. We are getting a signal located near 1634 Virginia Avenue. And this system is very accurate. And like I said, I'm pretty sure it's you I'm talking to.”

"Look!" began George. "There is clearly a mistake here, and it sounds like you are looking for someone on house arrest and that he supposed to be home. It sounds like his whereabouts have been traced near my home. I can reassure you that I am not your criminal. But now that I think of about it, I hope that he is not hiding in my house, somewhere."

The caller interrupted, "Well is this George Ludwig?"

George was taken aback and hesitated. "That is my name.”

"How ironic!" answered the caller in a sarcastic tone. "Tell you what: don't go anywhere. You stay right where you are, and I will have the police there very shortly to come get you."

George had no idea what to think. A parole officer was clearly looking for a convict who apparently violated the terms of his house arrest and was now being traced near George's home. Maybe he cut the bracelet and dumped it nearby. Or worse, maybe this convict was physically hiding in George's house. But so ironic; this convict had the same name as George. Whatever the explanation, it was probably best for the police to come and investigate. "Sure..." cautiously agreed George. "Let the police come here and get things clarified. I don't know why your convict is being traced to my address. Have them come quickly to investigate and make sure he is not hiding in my home somewhere."

"I'll do that!" reassured the caller in a nearly threatening tone. He obviously did not believe George's story. "And don't go anywhere!" he ordered before hanging up.

"What was that about?" asked Beth.

George explained as best as he understood. Apparently there was some confusion, thanks to a convict on house arrest who had violated the terms of his arrest. He was now being traced to their home. And in a bizarre twist of coincidence, George had the same name as the convict. "But don't worry." reassured George. "As soon as the police get here, they will see that I am not this person. Then they will make sure that our house is safe and that he is not hiding here. Maybe this person cut his bracelet and left it in the front lawn near the bushes.

"Are you going to jail, Daddy?" asked little Angela.

"No, Sweetie." answered George. "The police are just coming here to make sure we are okay."

***

Five minutes later there was a startling rap at the door. Police! Open up!”

George rushed over and opened the door. What faced him were four police officers with guns drawn and pointed at George.

"Get on the ground!" one of them ordered. "On the ground!"

Shocked and confused George did as ordered. The officers stormed into the house and immediately placed handcuffs over George who laid face first on the floor.

From the family room, little Angela started to cry and rushed over to Mommy for comfort and safety.

"What's going on?" nervously asked Beth.

"Ma'am, just sit tight." answered one of the officers.

Little Angela continued to cry while hugging her mother. What no one understood in that moment was that George had an unknown distant cousin with the same name who was on house arrest to finish a prison sentence for auto theft. He violated the terms of his house arrest and was now at 1634 Virginia Avenue. And as luck would have it, both men strongly resembled one another in appearance. Of course the police believed that the George in handcuffs was the wanted man.

Angela watched in horror as the police dragged her Daddy out the door to the police car. He was on his way to jail.

The End!