A call to 911, a baseball bat, and Kidney Boy

At 9:00 last night I was sitting peacefully, relaxing, watching tv in my pj's. Thomas was sitting on my lap, Zach was sitting on the couch, and Charlie was preparing for his week long work excursion on Beaver Island.

At 9:05 the dogs were barking like crazy, and a 4', red headed, 17 year old boy with kidney problems named Jay was stand at my door yelling profanities and threatening to kick all of our asses. I could barely believe my eyes. Only 24 hours previously this kid had been in my home, hanging out with Zach, normal as could be. Off in the distance, through the darkness, I could see the darkened form of yet another kid, Josh.

While Zach and Thomas had both been with Charlie the entire day, Jay seemed to believe that Zach had in fact somehow managed to find his way over to Jay's girlfriends house and thrown a rock at her head.

Don't ask me how this all transpire, because, I am still clueless.

But, there stood Jay, threatening our lives, Josh in the darkness off near the woods, and Charlie threatening great bodily harm to the two of them unless they removed themselves from my premises.

I could take no more. I ran up stairs and dressed, ran back downstairs and told Zach to get in the car. We would be having a little discussion with Jay's parents. Hopping in the car, I looked for Charlie. He had disappeared out of sight. Assuming he was merely off in the darkness himself, waiting to see what these 2 imbecile kids were going to do, I pulled out of the driveway and headed toward Jay's house.

Ahead of me I could see something swinging in the road. I craned my eyes, a little afraid it was one of the boys carrying a baseball bat.

I was more afraid of what I found.

It was Charlie carrying the baseball bat. I freaked out. Pulling up next to him, I rolled the window down and begged him to go back to the house. He was beyond ticked at this point. "Nobody comes into my yard, stands at my door, and threatens my family! Call the cops Sherri, just call the cops!"

I did.

Before I even got to the end of Coppins Rd. I had the cell phone out and dialed 911. I explained to them on the way to Jay's what had happened up until that point, I had explained to them how Charlie was brandishing a baseball bat, and I explained that I was on my way to get the kids parents.

I'm quite certain I couldn't have sounded more redneck if I tried..... Ugh!

Zachary and I arrive at Jay's house. Or, should I say hovel. 2 big dogs were barking and growling at me as I opened the door to my car and climbed out. I wasn't afraid, and the dogs immediately backed off and ran to the other side of the semi truck that was parked to the right side of Jay's house trailer.

The screen door opened a crack and a head popped out, no outside lights ever came on. From inside I could hear more dogs.

"Are you Jay's mom?" I asked, I could hear my voice shaking.

"Yes," was her response.

"You're son is at my house, threatening me, my husband, my kids. I'm 7 months pregnant, I have a 4 year old at home, and my husband is about to be out of town on work for the next week. I really don't need your son at my door threatening to kick the shit out of people." I tried my best to be polite and unangered.

"I don't know who you are," she began to sneer at me.

"Well, I don't know who you are either, but your son is at my house, and I've already called the cops."

"All right, let me follow you. I'll be right out," this time she was more civil.

I was amazed to find, as we got back to Coppins Rd, that the kids were still lurking by the house. Josh was just past the neighbors house pushing a bike and Jay was hiding somewhere in the field. A cop was positioned at the end of my driveway, lights pointed in our oncoming direction checking out the scene. Jay's parents had stopped when they saw Josh, probably to pick him up and find out just what exactly their side of the story was.

I pulled into the driveway and found a terrified Thomas running out of the house asking me if he was going to be arrested and if the cops had found dead bodies.

We've been watching way to much CSI.

I reassured him that no, he wasn't being arrested that the cops were here to help us sort out the situation. Zach, Thomas, and I all headed down the driveway to where the cop was standing.

Jay was still missing, but he parents were now pulling to a stop in front of the cop car. Knowing I needed to say something, I motioned for Charlie and the cop and told them Jay's parents were here, I hoped like heck this could remain civil.

I honestly believe Jay's mom expected this to be a scene from an episode of 'Cops' or something because she had hopped out of the truck and walked up to us with attitude.

"I'm Jay's Mom," she huffed. She gave him her name and immediately stated that he probably knew her.

"Um, no, the name doesn't ring a bell," he replied. My first thoughts were, this family has had many a scuffle with the law, I'm sure.

He went on the explain that he had spoken with the boys, and they denied being at the house. I have to admit, I was surprised by her honesty. Jay's mom came out and literally told the officer they had lied, they were both at the house, and did exactly what we had claimed they had done.

Then asked if the officer would arrest her son.

Charlie threw his arms up in the air and explained that he was not interested in pressing any charges, our concern was just settling the situation and getting back with regular life.

The mother was insistent. She genuinely wanted her son to be put in jail, to teach him a lesson.

It was at this point, even after all that he had done, that I felt sorry for this boy.

The mother started to then fill us in on the circumstances that had transpired and how they all revolved around a 12 year old foster kid that lived next door to them. Apparently she claimed Zach had been starting things with her and Jay felt he was going to 'take care of the problem'.

At the end of the story, she had lost most of her anger, and had actually told Zach just to stay away from the girl, she was nothing but trouble. He claimed to not even know who she is.

While this entire situation bothers me, what bothers me most is the fact that these parents just let their kids do whatever the hell they want.

Jay is 17, but Josh is only 13, their houses are about 5 miles from mine. What parent, in their right mind, would willingly allow their minor child to treck, on foot, 5 miles in the dark, with only a bike that is out of gas, to go beat up a so-called friend of theirs?

I'm at a loss.

Sure, kids are responsible for their own actions, and I fully believe they deserve punishment when punishment is warranted, but come on! Parents do have a responsibility to their kids.

Keep a God damned eye on them!

Zach does not always listen to what I say, or do what I tell him to do, but I'll be damned if I ever let him do something like this. My ass would have been out looking for him at dusk, putting the fear of God into him for making me worry.

Then again, not that I'm stereo typing or anything, but, I don't live in a house trailer with monster dogs and semi trucks parked in my yard.