Chapter 5, Short Shrift Summary

When the market stalls get jumbled together, the words get mixed up, and everyone's sentences are out of order. "Do going to we what are!" complains one of the vendors. As things are returning to normal, the entire police force of Dictionopolis (which is made up of one officer) arrives. His name is Officer Shrift, and he is exceedingly short, not even two feet tall and almost twice as wide. He is abrupt, loud, accusative, and does not listen to anyone's protestations of innocence. Officer Shrift abruptly arrests Milo and Tock for a variety of crimes, including sowing confusion and wreaking havoc. After changing into a judge's robe, Officer (or Judge) Shrift gives them a short sentence: "I am." Then he imposes a "small additional penalty of six million years in prison." Officer Shrift (who is also the jailer...