After the Massacre

Overinflation is the downfall of the neighborhood inflatables. 300-word flash

After the Massacre

“What happened here?” said a voice from the open window of the patrol car that arrived.
“Officer Simpson! I’m so glad you’re here! My Christmas inflatable exploded! I try not to over-inflate them, so I have no idea why it would explode.”
The officer got out of the car and began inspecting the scene.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“I’ve never seen one before,” Kerri said, putting on her glasses to examine the item.
“I’ll take it with me as evidence and look into it.”
Kerri breathed a sigh of relief that the matter, small as it may have seemed, was being taken seriously
“I’ll let you know what I find out,” Officer Simpson assured her. He took it to his car and left for the precinct. When he got to his desk, he logged into his computer and began searching.
“Amazing, the local hardware store carries this exact kind of battery- operated inflation device. I give them a call.”
As he dialed, he wondered who was going around making holiday yard inflatables explode?
“Good afternoon, am I speaking to the proprietor of Hardware Is Us? Do you carry the battery inflator known as a Super-Inflate? You do? Can you supply me with a list of people who bought one lately?”
“Oh, just you? For your wife? I’m investigating a vandalism case. One the yard inflatables at Kerri Jerome’s exploded. I found the inflator at the scene. Thank you, I’ll see you two soon.”
Marcia and her husband arrived quickly.
“Honestly, Officer Simpson, I watched her use the inflator. It seemed like she had it down,” Marcia’s husband said.
“Well, ma’am, what do you have to say?”
“I’ll apologize to Kerri and repay her. I was just trying to be helpful by keeping my neighbor’s inflatables looking right.”