Chapter 6

   Mr. Wu began to explain what was happening. As he was retelling the story, Lois butted in and said that it was all a misunderstanding. She confessed to the officer "I just wanted to sell a few things that I wasn't using anymore. This shop keeper is trying to make it look like I have stolen the Jade pieces! They actually belong to my daughter, so what's wrong with me selling them? I am the head of our household, so it's my right to do as I please!" 

   The man looked at Lois as if she had mud on her face. "That's not how it works. Only the registered owner can facilitate a sale on such items."

   The Detective looked around the shop and spotted Debbie, and asked her if she was the rightful owner of the Jade Candle Sticks. "Do these items belong to you Madame?"

   Debbie brought out her ID card for the shop owner Mr. Wu to verify her identity. She then spoke to the Detective and said "Yes, they are mine. They were a wedding present 5 years ago from a dear family friend. And no, I do not wish to sell them! My mother has cooked up some hairbrained scheme to raise some money to force me to divorce my husband and arrange a marrige with a rich man. I do not care for this idea and will never go along with it!"

   So the question was, what to do about Lois? Debbie had no desire to put her mother in jail, but she must be taught a lesson. Debbie caught Rick's eye with a questioning look. Maybe he had some ideas. With that look, Rick walked over to Old Wilson and asked " What do you think should be the punishment for Lois?"

   Old Wilson's face showed a solemn grin. "Leave it to me." he said. With that he called the detective over and had a quiet chat with him. In the end they agreed on a plan that would leave Lois with no crimial record, but would still make her pay a price. 

   The detective said to Lois "You will come with me now to the police station for interragation! This is a felony offence and must be dealt with properly!"

   Lois almost wet her pants she was so scared! She whispered "What do you mean? My daughter would never have me arrested! It's all just a misunderstanding! Debbie! Tell them that you don't want to have me arrested! Tell them now!"

   The Detective looked at Lois and said "It's too late for that! This is a criminal felony case you have landed yourself in now! "

   In the end, Lois was taken to the police station and was given 50 hours of community service to perform to atone for her acts. Needless to say, she thought that this was unreasonable and blamed Rick for the whole thing. When she got back to the apartment, all she could do was yell and berate Rick. Finally, Debbie had had enough! 

   She looked over at Lois and said "If it weren't for Rick, it would have been a lot worse! You should be glad that he put in a good word for you to get off so easy!"

   Lois yelled  "Tomorrow morning  Debbie and I are going to file for a divorce! You are no longer welcome in my house!"

   Debbie snickered and said to her mother "No we are not. Rick and I are looking for a new house tomorrow, so the day is already full! Besides, you have to start preforming your community service tomorrow. And if I were you, I'd also be out looking for a job!"

   Lois was finally able to calm down a little and asked Deebie "Where are you going to look for our new house?"

   To which Debbie replied " Not OUR new house, mine and Rick's new house. You will be staying here." Lois was livid.

   She shouted at Debbie "What do you mean that I'm staying here?`Are you going to just abandon me to starve to death? It is your duty to look after me and take care of me in my old age! I will not let you do this to me you ungrateful child! All of this must be Rick's idea! He is no longer to set foot in this house!"

   To which Debbie replied "First of all, this is also half my house too. My father left it to both of us equally. Rick and I have been paying all of the bills, taxes and groceries for the last five years as you sat on your lazy behind doing absolutly nothing to help, but to spend our hard earned money on yourself! And when you reach your 'old age', I'll make sure you are taken care of. But for now, you will have to get a job, and start helping around the house more."

   Debbie had been thinking about this, and decided to act. She didn't want to continue living with her mother since she would not let up on Rick. Rick was astonished at Debbie's decision, but not really surprised. Debbie was as tired as he was with Lois being such a shrew. He asked Debbie what her plan was.

   Debbie thought how to put it to him. "I think the best thing to do is to pay her living expenses here at the Sun Down Estates, but no extra money for luxuries. Mom could get a job if she needed extra money. She is not old enough to draw any kind of pension, so work it will have to be."

    Rick was impressed with Debbie's logic. This way, they could finally have a quiet homelife. But how were they going to get Lois to agree to this plan? Time will tell if she can accept her fate, or will she throw fit after fit till Debbie has to have her commited to an institution?