Jump The Gun

I wrote this to the Thimbleful Thursday prompt of the same name.

“Young lady, why shouldn’t we call your parents?” The desk sergeant looked at her across the counter.

“Because they won’t care or will be too busy to come,” the teenager shrugged. “Same difference.”

“If you can’t produce a responsible adult then you’ll be held in protective custody until the court deals with you in the morning,” he warned.

“I’ll cope,” she said confidently. “I have before.”

“You do that too often, you’ll get yourself declared uncontrolled,” warned the desk sergeant. “That’ll lead to mandatory location assignment.”

“I’d rather the courts send me away before my parents get around to it.”

“Why would we do that?” Her father was behind her.