Driving in the car on one recent afternoon, Henry asked me if police officers can make you brush your teeth.

No, Henry. Police cannot make your brush your teeth. 


They don’t make you brush your teeth? 


No, police don’t have any authority over whether you brush your teeth. There is no law about tooth brushing. It’s a personal decision. 


Well, do they even have toothbrushes? 


Police officers? 


No, the prisoners? 


Oh! Are you asking if police officers can make inmates brush their teeth? 


Yes! 


I would assume that all inmates are offered toothbrushes, but I don’t think anyone could make them brush their teeth if they didn’t want to. 


Well, what do they eat? 


I don’t know. I imagine there are federal regulations about three meals – 


I bet they eat chips and salsa. Yeah, probably chips and salsa. And then if they have salsa they can break out of jail because salsa is hot! 


What! 


Yeah! We saw it on Myth Busters. These guys broke out of jail with salsa! They rubbed the salsa on the bars and the bars melted ‘cause it was hot. 


And then both Henry and Wyatt enthusiastically relayed the episode from Myth Busters where three guys broke out of jail using salsa. 


I didn't believe a word of it. That kid is crazy! I mean his favorite t-shirt is tie-dyed and if that isn't crazy, I don't know what is!