1. A Strange Day
Jacob is his family’s rock. He is a single father who loves his son more than anything in the world. Things were going perfectly for the small family, until that fateful day. The day began with him getting fined for a sticker that was on his truck, which ultimately led to his son being suspended from school.
Jacob could feel his face turn red with frustration. He knew he had to take this matter to court.
2. Driving To School
Jacob and his son got into the car on a chilly Monday morning and made their way to his school. They were listening to their favorite songs when police sirens suddenly interrupted them.
The sound of the sirens suddenly startled the school employees, and they began to move in the direction of the noise.
3. Keeping Calm
Jacob was perplexed as he got out of the car. He asked his son to sit back while he dealt with the situation. The police officer informed him that he had been fined and that he must attend a court hearing on Tuesday.
Even though Jacob felt incredibly frustrated, he kept his mouth shut and accepted the paper from him. He knew he needed to stay calm to prevent things from evolving into something worse.
4. Confusion
Once the officer drove off, Jacob walked back to his car. He couldn’t help but wonder why this happened as he got ready to take his son to school.
He held his son’s hand tightly as he walked into the school, and once he stepped inside, the principal stopped him. What the principal said made Jacob’s blood boil.
5. He Couldn’t Get In
The principal told Jacob that it was not necessary for his son to come to school that day. Jacob’s face was turning into a darker shade of red as he attempted to convince the principal that his son deserved to go to school that day.
However, he might as well have been speaking to a wall, as the principal refused his son entry. Frustrated, Jacob walked back to his truck with his son. He was at a loss of what to do.
6. What Could He Do?
Jacob felt powerless and enraged by everything that transpired that morning as he drove back with his son. He had to get to work soon, and there was nobody available to watch his son he had another issue to solve.
Jacob couldn’t show up at work with his son by his side but leaving him at home alone wasn’t an option either. As he was racking his brain for solutions, he stumbled upon the perfect solution.
7. Asking For Help
The clock was ticking, and Jacob needed to get to work, but thankfully he had an idea. He needed a person to look after his son, and he knew exactly who he could ask for help.
His parents lived down the road, so he gave them a call. They adored his son and would gladly watch over him until Jacob got back from work. It was the perfect solution.
8. Problem Solved!
Jacob’s parents eagerly agreed to look after their grandson, so he quickly dropped him off at their house. As he got back into the car to leave for work, he grabbed the paper the officer had given him earlier that day.
He quickly scanned through its contents, nothing paying it too much attention. He was already very late for work, and he couldn’t give his full attention to it at that moment.
9. Questions
Jacob shrugged as he shoved the paper aside and drove to work. However, he couldn’t help but wonder why he was pulled over. He knew he didn’t have any outstanding fines, and he wasn’t breaking any traffic laws either.
Jacob finished work, and his mind returned to the paper. He fished it out of his car and read through its contents thoroughly. His earlier confusion was quickly replaced with full-blown rage.
10. It Was Ridiculous!
Jacob read through the paper again and again just to make sure he wasn’t missing anything. He was stunned. He couldn’t believe what they fined him for! His blood was boiling at that point.
He was being fined for a sticker that was on the back of his truck! The attending officer didn’t even take the time to enquire about the meaning of the sticker but rather just chose to ignorantly fine him for it! His absurd behavior made things worse for Jacob and his son.
11- Discussions
Jacob drove his son home after picking him up and thanking his parents. He sat with his wife that evening, and they spoke about what was in the note.
Jacob was still upset when his wife told him to go to court as directed, but he ultimately agreed with her. Additionally, he considered coming to court to be the ideal pretext for exacting retribution.
12- Waiting Patiently
Tuesday came around faster than expected. Jacob and his son were both prepared. With his pride intact, he walked to the courthouse since he understood how absurd and unpleasant the whole scenario was.
Jacob waited patiently, watching as the judge dealt with countless cases of speeding tickets before it was eventually his turn.
13- The Time Is Now
In minutes, Jacob’s name was called, and the two stood up and made their way to the podium. The judge began by stating that the sticker on his vehicle was misinforming and even a form of mockery of the current president.
He told Jacob that his neighbors had previously complained about the sticker. Jacob became enraged as the judge continued his speech. He prepared himself to speak by tightening his hold on the platform table's corners.
14- Including His Son
While barely retaining his calm, Jacob began by instructing his son to read the sticker. “Let’s go, Brandon,” his son started speaking.
In an effort to comprehend why he involved his kid in this issue, the judge turned to face him. The courtroom fell silent as Jacob turned to face his son and asked a question.
15- The Response
“Brandon, son, how does that sign make you feel?” Jacob spoke with assurance. Brandon responded while beaming broadly, “It makes me feel really happy.”
The entire courtroom gaped in amazement as it felt horrible for the ordeal the two had to go through. Jacob addressed the Judge before continuing.
16- The Meaning
“Your Honor, my son wanted to be nominated as class president but wasn’t feeling confident enough,” he stated. “I made sure that Brandon and everyone else knew that he could do it.”
The judge's demeanor changed from when the hearing had started. The judge continued, shocking everyone, including young Brandon, with a few remarks.
17- Misunderstanding
"Let's Go, Brandon!" was the exact phrase the judge used when addressing Brandon. The judge then expressed regret for the miscommunication to the two and assured Brandon that he would be one of his biggest advocates for the nomination, sending shivers through the courthouse.
With the accusations against them dropped, the two departed the courthouse that day, but the situation was far from over.
18- Gaining Attention
Jacob posted a photo of the sticker and his account's narrative on social media after returning home. People bought their own stickers to show their support for Brandon and posted them on their personal social media accounts, which helped the story swiftly gain attention.
The issue spread to Brandon's school, where the principal spoke briefly about the matter.
19- Banding Together
The principal officially apologized for the event in a statement released to the media. By the conclusion of the week, Brandon was elected class president with the intention of ensuring that everyone was kind to one another.
Every day, such terrible cases take place all around the nation. Another man received a comparable punishment in an adjacent state, which was an even worse situation.
20- Another Case
A simple legal misunderstanding had resulted in a hefty fine for twenty-year-old Darren Cage, a librarian, and student.
If the responsible authorities had just taken a few minutes to interrogate Darren about the sticker on the rear of his car, the situation involving Darren would have been quickly and simply resolved.
21. He Had No Choice
Darren had no choice but to grow up sooner than his peers. When Darren was just nineteen years old, a car accident ended the lives of his parents, leaving him and his two little sisters all by themselves.
There was no family who lived nearby, so he had to step up in order to take care of his sisters. He was unaware that gloomier times were approaching.
22. A Good Friend
Darren managed to juggle between school, his job as a librarian, and being a parental figure to his two sisters. When he first encountered Genevieve, a girl who would assist him in adjusting to his new life, he was working in the library.
Genieve was a good friend to Darren, and for a year after they met, she did her best to help lessen his responsibilities with his sisters and also ensured that he was taking care of himself. However, one day, things took a turn for the worst.
23. Accident
One morning, Darren received the call that changed everything. It was the hospital contacting him to inform him that his friend was in a horrible car accident. She survived the accident. However, she was not in good shape.
Darren dropped everything he was doing and rushed to the hospital. He asked a close friend to watch over his sisters that day. When he finally arrived at the hospital and saw Genevieve’s condition, his eyes filled with tears.
24. A Terrible Sight
Genevieve was sleeping in her room when Darren arrived. Her entire body was covered in bandages, and the nurse informed him that Genevieve also needed numerous stitches.
The entire ordeal reminded Darren of what happened to his parents. His eyes ached with more tears, and nausea swelled up in his throat. How could the world be so harsh?
25. It Was His Turn
Darren swallowed his tears and approached his friend. She was there for him in his darkest moments and never expected anything in return. Now it was his turn to be there for her.
Looking back on the incident that took his parents' lives, Darren came to a vital realization. Something connected Genevieve's accident to the death of his parents. Darren gritted his teeth in rage.
26. He Had To Take Action
People who drove while drunk were the reason why Darren was in this position. The idea burnt his psychological scars, and he realized he had to take action.
Before heading to a car tuning shop, Darren checked Genevieve's records with one of the doctors to make sure she was okay for the day. He was very clear about his goals.
27. Being Pulled Over
Not even five minutes after getting a sticker applied to the rear of his car, Darren was pulled up by a policeman on the freeway.
Darren wasn't running late for work or dropping off his child at school as Jacob was. He was making a hasty retreat to his friend's side. However, the officer gave him a slip that stated that Darren would soon have to make a court appearance.
28. What Was The Reason?
Darren sat in his car and gripped the steering wheel firmly. He wanted to shout aloud. He struggled to comprehend why he was the victim of injustice in the world.
The note provided by the officer claimed that his sticker indicated that he was a member of a gang. But why did the sticker raise such a commotion in the first place?
29. Court Day
Darren stepped outside of his car to take a look at the sticker, which depicted a bottle with a red cross over it. He assumed that everyone would understand that it was indicating that it was never acceptable to be behind the wheel while intoxicated, but perhaps he was mistaken.
Darren’s court day approached, and he explained his situation to the judge. He made sure to explain the true meaning behind the sticker, but would the judge give him a chance?
30. He Was Judged Too Quickly
The judge listened carefully, just as she had in Jacob's instance. She alerted Darren of the increasing crime rates in the area and the existence of gangs with identical stickers on their cars. She expressed sympathy for Darren as well and praised him for stepping up to care for his family and best friend. These kinds of situations serve as evidence that not everything is as it seems.
Officer Eddy Macintosh's tale is yet another excellent illustration of how not everything is not as it seems. He was casually seated at Denny's when a 9-year-old passed him a note that caused him to leap from his seat.
31. A Lovely Morning
He looked around his favorite diner as peace washed over him. He had a warm cup of coffee on a chilly morning, and he felt warm from the inside out.
He had already eaten his whole plate of food, and he knew it was time to go back to the station. As he settled his bill, a small child ran up to up and gave him a note. When he learned what was written inside, his heart dropped to his stomach.
32. A Dedicated Man
Eddy Macintosh was a proud deputy of the Orleans Parish located in Louisiana. He has lived in New Orleans for as long as he can remember, and for the last ten years, he has been a serving deputy.
Eddy knew his county almost better than he knew himself. However, what he witnessed that cold morning made him question everything.
33. Nothing Special
It was an average morning for Eddy. It was a freezing morning, and the rain did not help. Eddy went on a quick walk before taking a warm shower.
He had a quick cup of tea before leaving for work. He wanted to treat himself to a nice meal later that day, so he skipped breakfast. There was no way of knowing what the day had in store for him.
34. A Good Day
Eddy clocked in early that morning, and there was not a soul in sight. However, it was very early, and the officers had ample time to get to work.
He made a list of everything that needed to be done that day, and then he began his daily rounds around the parish. He knew that if he did everything correctly, he could be by the diner for breakfast at eleven.
35. Hunger
Everything went perfectly, and he finished his rounds much earlier than anticipated. He couldn’t help but feel excited, knowing that he would have breakfast almost an hour earlier than intended.
He made his way to the local diner, and upon arrival, he gave the owner a big hug. He chose a spot in a booth that was covered in the sun, exactly what he needed on that chilly morning. He was going through the menu when something caught his attention.
36. It Was Odd
There weren’t many customers in the diner even though it was almost time for lunch. It was also strange as the whole community adored this diner.
He spotted a woman and her son eating their food and a group of bikers who ate burgers and drank beers. However, there was more than meets the eye.
37. Bikers
There was something about the bikers that sent shivers down Eddy’s spine. They had patches on their jackets, which showed a fist against a red oval. There were words around the oval, and even though Eddy couldn’t see them, he knew exactly what they said.
Eddy has dealt with bikers many times in his career. There are many different types of bikers, some are kind, and others are always looking to cause trouble. The question was, where does this group fit in?
38. BACA
“BACA,” Eddy whispered as he received his meal. It was an acronym for Bikers Against Child Abuse. He had worked with them numerous times in the past, and he would gladly do it again.
He started eating his meal and remembered the days when he joined the BACA organization with his motorcycle. Those were the days, he thought. Eddy continued eating his breakfast with no clue what was about to transpire.
39. More Food
Eddy waved at the group of bikers as they left the restaurant. He had finished his meal, but he could feel his stomach still grumbling. He called the waitress closer and ordered another plate.
A few moments later, she brought his food, and he dug in. As he ate his food, he noticed that there was something peculiar about the woman and her son.
40. He Knew Her!
Eddy realized that he had seen this woman before, and he could even recall her name! She was Heather Jennings, a woman who he had given a ticket as she illegally parked outside the cemetery.
She was very upset, but it needed to be done. How could Eddy have known that this would push the woman over the edge?
In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.