And in that moment a man with two small children, doing an act of uncomplicated kindness that took him about four seconds to decide on, committed a felony.

Part Twenty-Six: What the System Does Every Night

I need to say plainly what the offence actually was, because when I have told people this part the reaction is always that it seems unfair, and it is not unfair, and understanding why it is not unfair is the most useful thing in this part.

Taking property from a minor was the small part.

In this state that is a licensing violation and a misdemeanour and it would have cost the shop a fine and Dusty his job and that would have been the end of it.