My niece wanted to know whether I could build a slide.
I told her that was a project requiring serious planning.
She looked disappointed.
Then asked if a small slide would require less serious planning.
My sister laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.
For a while, the afternoon felt normal.
But every time I glanced toward the gate, I remembered the president's expression after the dispatch message.
She hadn't looked ashamed.
She'd looked furious that the officers possessed information she couldn't control.
I wondered what would happen when she discovered the incident report contained her own statements and the video of her physical confrontation.
After lunch, my sister supervised the children in the pool while I gathered the dishes.
She approached me near the kitchen.
"You're going to need help with this."
I nodded.
"Already spoke with an attorney."
She looked relieved.
Then asked whether I intended to move.
The question surprised me.
"Move?"
She glanced toward the backyard.
"You just bought this house, and that woman has already made you feel like you need to defend it every weekend."
For several seconds, I stared through the glass.
The children were splashing happily in the shallow section.
The sun shone across the lawn.
And the house looked exactly as beautiful as it had during the showing.
I thought about how long I'd saved to buy it.
Then I looked toward my sister.
"No."
She raised one eyebrow.
I continued.
"I'm not letting someone else's bad behavior decide where I live."
She nodded slowly.
Then smiled.
"Good."
On Monday morning, my attorney obtained the incident reference and began arranging access to the records available through the appropriate procedures.
The security footage had already been preserved.
I wrote a detailed account while the events were fresh.
I included what happened before the officers arrived, what the president said, and which parts of the exchange were visible or audible on the recordings.
I didn't exaggerate.
I didn't claim she'd tried to kill me.
I didn't turn a shove into a serious injury.
The facts were enough.
She had entered after receiving a documented warning.
She'd initiated physical contact.
And she'd told responding officers a version of the incident that the video contradicted.
My attorney reviewed the statement.
Then asked whether I wanted to pursue a formal complaint concerning the physical contact and repeated entry.
I nodded.
"Yes."
She explained that investigators and prosecutors would determine which allegations, if any, supported charges under the applicable law.
I understood.
I wasn't asking anyone to punish the president simply because she irritated me.