Bail me Out Please!

My nephew called this evening. “Auntie please bail me out of jail.”

“What!”

I promise I won’t miss another court date.”

“Sorry kid. I warned you to go to court.”

“You’ll get your money back. I promise I’ll go to court this time.”

“How much is your bail?”

“750.00.”

“Sorry won’t do. I told you on three different occasions that when you are summons to court, you have to go. This is not your world. There are rules.”

“So you are not going to do it?”

“No!”

Wow that felt good to say no. Often I run to handle my nieces and nephews every need. But he is 19. Though I know he will make mistakes, this was one he brought on his self. See he was hanging with the wrong crowd and I told him more times then I can remember to stop. A boy in his circle was accused of stealing some food and he took the blame because he did not want to snitch. In the hood, they don’t believe in snitching. Even the person who the food was taken from tried to convince him to tell on his friend. She saw the friend take it and told the police.

But he wouldn’t tell. Since the food was under three hundred dollars, it was a misdemeanor. But after his young sister paid the 150.00 to get him out because he was so afraid, being it was the first time he had ever gotten into trouble, she rescued him. But when the court letters arrived he tore them up. How soon do the tears dry up? Well after he missed the first and second court dates, I told him to call a friend of mines who is a judge.

There is a day in the court system here where you can go on a certain date like I think it is Wednesday and make an agreement with the judge to do community service and pay your fine. He wouldn’t even do that. So this time he has to learn for himself. Mother always said it takes a hard ass to learn.

Hopefully this time he will get back on the straight path. He is the bored, want to be hip/cool former straight “A” student, who thinks he is smarter than everyone else. By the way I tried to talk to him and explain how records can keep you from jobs but these teens think they know the law better than a lawyer. He said misdemeanor don't stop that! This is his life and I have mine. If you try to keep helping someone and they don't listen, your help harms the person more. Because he is not learning any lessons.

I tell you! I'm finally growing up!