1822. You’re under arrest

“You’re under arrest,” said Ms. Plod the Policewoman.

The all-powerful Chairperson of the country had issued a decree making it compulsory for everyone to cover their face with a mask. Here was a group of three people not wearing such a mask.

“You’re under arrest,” repeated Ms. Plod the Policewoman.

“We’re just grabbing a bit of healthy sunshine,” they replied. “What’s wrong with that?”

Ms. Plod the Policewoman looked down. She was a little embarrassed. What a silly thing it was to have been instructed to go about arresting people not wearing a mask.

The three under arrest offered no resistance. Thank goodness for that! It was always difficult putting handcuffs on more than one person if they objected. Especially if she was working alone. The Chairperson of the country had decreed that every member of the police force must arrest at least six people a day for not wearing a mask. Six! That is why Ms. Plod the Policewoman was doing the job wearing the same as everyone else, as a civilian, incognito, so as to catch people by surprise.

Fortunately Ms. Plod the Policewoman was adept at quickly reaching the daily quota.

“You’re under arrest,” she’d say. Generally speaking these three guys in the nudist colony were a pretty docile bunch.