Friday, August 16, 2019

Our Black Sheep

It’s what every family fears. The call in the middle of the night. The gut-wrenching panic that swells up and constricts the throat at the sound of the State Trooper’s voice. That feeling of impending doom when you see the squad car pull up in front of the house and the officers solemnly walking up the driveway. You have felt this day coming all of your life. It has been your nightmare, constantly in the back of your mind. You have always known that it would come to this. Every family has one, you tell yourself. It’s nobody’s fault, you remind everyone. You still love her despite the years of rebellion, acting out, and foolishness. But all along you’ve known that she would finally go too far and the long arm of the law would reach through the madness and administer justice. Yesterday, it finally happened. Our beloved Christina Garland finally went too far...and had the brazen gall to broadcast her sins on Facebook:

Christina: I accidentally ended up in the EZ-Pass-only lane on the Powhite Parkway tonight and could not get over to the cash lane in time! What am I supposed to do? Whom do I call? Are they going to fine me??

“Accidentally” indeed! This is a lifelong pattern of defiance. First it was innocent enough . . .refusing to come out from under the table at dinner time, failing to sharpen borrowed pencils before returning them to their rightful owners. . .and now this!!

Nobody thinks it will happen to them. Everybody thinks that it’s other families who have the problem child, that surely one so devoutly raised and nurtured would be able to resist a life of wanton crime and depravity. But, I am here to tell you that if it can happen to our Christina, it can happen to anyone. 

Thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated in this, our hour of need.

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