“Thank you, detective. I will try that.”
On the way back to the station, Bruce said: “by the way, Mrs. Thorne was very interested in the fact that seniors can ‘adopt’ a flower bed, a few shrubs or a patch of grass to care for in the park.”
“I bet she was,” Harry mumbled. “One more way to poke her nose into someone else’s business.”
Bruce laughed. “She plans to put a flowering shrub on both sides of the fence to cover that hole so Brewster can’t get out there again.”
“Now that’s a good idea! Maybe she’ll meet a man in the process to keep her from being so nosy.”
“He might even wear size nine shoes,” Bruce quipped.
After parking the car, they walked up to the station. Bruce opened the door and held it for Harry to precede him.
Harry stepped inside and was immediately greeted with a loud cheer of “Happy retirement, Harry!” This was followed by a boisterous, off-key rendering of ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow.’ Harry grinned as he thanked them. He was going to miss these guys.
“Hard to believe I won’t see your ugly mug at that desk anymore,” Bruce said. “I’m gonna miss you, partner.”
“We’ll all miss you,” someone else added.
“Are you really ready for this?” Sharon asked. “How will you keep busy? Surely, you can’t go fishing every day.”
“Who says I can’t?” Harry demanded. “There’s no better way to relax than to get out in nature with a fishing rod.”
Bruce shook his head. “Didn’t you know? Our Harry is setting up his own private office.”
“Really? When I retire I’m going back to the farm and live the simple life,” one of the others said.
“It won’t be all work,” Harry said. “I’m not advertising. I’ll just relax and let the work come to me and if it’s something I don’t want to do then I don’t have to do it. I’ll have plenty of days to go fishing.”
“And with that in mind,” Bruce said, “we all chipped in to get you this.” He handed Harry a new fishing rod and basket and a ‘Gone Fishing’ sign.
Harry was touched by their gesture. “Thank you doesn’t seem adequate but I really appreciate this. I rather think the sign will get lots of use.”
Amidst the laughter and applause that followed, the Chief shook Harry’s hand and said, “We all wish you good luck, Harry. You’re well known in the community and that may be all the advertising you need.”
“Time will tell,” Harry said, “and if it doesn’t work out, I can always go fishing.”
