24 June 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3144: not my jurisdiction
“So, George is grounded but I promised I would ask him for you, and I'm asking you, Cousin Ironwood, because I know you will have an answer that makes sense.”
Six-year-old Grayson Ludlow had walked right up to his cousin Maj. Ironwood Hamilton, serving as police captain in the little town of Tinyville, VA. Said cousin was doing what sometimes had to be done in a little country town: a couple of cows had gotten loose and the town's chief safety officer generally got those calls as well. It didn't hurt that said cows ended up in the field between Grayson's home and the Hamiltons' home.
So, Grayson just waited until the bit with the cows was all done, and then met his big cousin in the field.
“Ask, Grayson; I'm all ears,” Cousin Ironwood said, and knelt down to the little boy's height.
“George wanted to know if we could clear some airspace, because Grandma is cooking beans. Since there's gonna be gas, he thinks he can get a rocket up if he eats the beans before she is finished soaking them.”
Maj. Hamilton, the father of six boys, never even batted an eye.
“The local airspace is not my jurisdiction except under emergency circumstances,” he said. “However, George might want to think that if y'all's grandfather catches wind of what he is getting ready to do, he may be grounded for so long that nobody can get clearance.”
“See, if I tell him you said it, he'll listen,” Grayson said. “It's hard, being the second-youngest in my house.”
“How so, Grayson?”
“I can see all the dumb stuff everybody older than me is about to do, and none of them listen. Shoot: I can see half of the dumb stuff adults are doing, and Papa says I have to stay out of adult conversations.”
“Sometimes, Grayson, you just have to see for yourself and learn how to stay out of the way of trouble. Warn your peers once, warn adults in case of emergency, but basically, at your age, it is enough to get out of the way.”
“OK, Cousin Ironwood. That makes sense because I am definitely the one to hit folks with the gottagobye – drama is not my jurisdiction.”
“Exactly right, cousin,” Maj. Hamilton said as he ran his hand tenderly through Grayson's blond hair. “We all need to know what our jurisdiction is, and leave the rest alone.”
“Yeah,” Grayson said, and gave his cousin a hug. “I feel a lot better now. Thank you.”
“I'll walk you home, cousin,” Maj. Hamilton said, and walked his cousin right up to Mrs. Thalia Ludlow, who was observing with a smile from the Ludlow front porch.