Today I took a ride in the paddy wagon.
To soothe your fears, no I hadn't done anything like expose myself to schoolgirls or steal an umbrella (the most common and heinous crime in Japan). I actually did my karma-boosting-good-deed-of-the-month.
Yesterday I noticed yet another bicycle had been thrown into the river next to my school. Apparently middle schoolers think it's a hoot to find accidentally-unlocked bicycles at stations, steal them, and throw them in rivers. I kid you not, there are at least five bikes in the river near my house. Let me tell you, boy is it scenic when you're enjoying the 桜 (Sakura, cherry blossoms) and your view includes a pile of plastic bags heaped next to a half-submerged bicycle.
So yesterday I rescued the brand-new bike and set it on the ledge that's at the side of the river. My teacher called the police, and they couldn't find it today, so the police came looking for me at school. Boy were they surprised at the main office ...
The bike was rescued and hopefully is on its way to its rightful owner, but I will admit to still feeling a little uneasy in the presence of two uniformed officers. And I'm such a good boy!