“Since you won’t pay for Lena, I suppose it’s useless to mention Mr. Kohl’s fender,” she said despairingly.
“Does he have one?”
“Please don’t try to be funny, Dad. This is tragic. While I was towing Lena, the rope broke and smash went the fender of Mr. Kohl’s slinky black limousine.”
“Interesting.”
“I had to promise to pay for it to keep from being arrested. Oh, yes, and before that I acquired this little thing.”
Penny tossed the yellow card across the desk.
“A parking ticket! Penny, how many times—” Mr. Parker checked himself, finishing in a calm voice: “This, too, is your debt. It may cost you five dollars.”
“Dad, you know I can’t pay. Think how your reputation will be tarnished if I am sent to jail.”
Mr. Parker smiled and reached as if to take money from his pocket. Reconsidering, he shook his head.
“I know the warden well,” he said. “I’ll arrange for you to be assigned to one of the better cells.”