Mary earns $$8,500$ as a waitress in a local Pizza parlor. Char, her husband, earned $$9,000$ as a security guard for a local department store. On August $1,$ Char was laid off and he collected $$4,000$ in unemployment compensation through the end of the year.

How much gross income must Char and Mary include on their Form $1040$ for the year?

A$.$ $$17,500$

B$.$ $$19,500$

C$.$ $$21,500$

D$.$ $$18,500$

E$.$ None of the above