Sunday, June 5, 2005

A reason for the worry

Oh, how quickly a great evening can go to Hell.  And, after only a week, we made some grand leaps at becoming the talk of the town.

Brett got a speeding ticket last week.  65 in a 45.  Nothing seems to get through to this kid, so I was hoping the huge expense of this mess would ground him a bit.  He goes too fast, even when it's within the posted limit...it's too fast for him in that car.  It worries me to death every time he leaves in it.

Tonight, he wanted to go to a friends house, 15 miles away.  I said, "OK, but leave by 8:30 to head home."  He called about 15 minutes later, and said, "Mom, I almost wrecked my car."  Almost?  Huh?  He said that he went off the edge on one of the many winding country roads around here.  I asked the obvious, and he assured me that both he, and the car, were fine.  I told him to slow the hell down, and be careful.

At 8:50, he called, and Kevin answered.  Why hadn't he left to head home yet?  "My car's messed up."  Great.  We told him to head home, go slow, and be careful.  We watched from the living room windows as he pulled up in front of the house, with a cop behind him, lights flashing.

The cops gets out as we walk out the door, says Brett has a headlight out.  No small wonder.  He didn't "go off the road"...the kid farmed a ditch.  The passenger side is all jacked up, fender pushed into the door, several dents and scrapes.  The drivers side has damage to the fender, the door, and there is dirt and grass between the wheel and the tire.  The headlights are all messed up, one won't open at all, the other only partially.

Yes, he'll be sitting for a while.  I have the keys.  He had one week left on his job, then vacation with Dad's family, then starting a new, better job making more money.  Now he can't get there.  He owes his dad a great deal of money for the ticket and lawyer (to lessen the blow to his driving record) and the car, and he just picked up a "faulty equiptment" ticket tonight.

Plus, bonus of bonuses, I had a cop with flashing lights in front of my new house in my new neighborhood for about 20 minutes.  Joy.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family.  But I'm mostly sorry that it wrecked your streak of happy & ectsatic moods.  Life.  I hope your week goes way uphill from here.  Hug, Russ

Anonymous said...

Oh the joys of being the parent of a teenager.  It's all coming back to me now.  

Anonymous said...

just think, in the 20 minutes of the cop having the flashing lights at your place, the whole town new in 10 min.......lol the joy of a small town.  I like to say I wish Brett has learned, but nope ask Arick.

Anonymous said...

Other than the financial problems this caused you are truely blessed.  You have a perfectly normal teenager!!  He has spirit!  He still communicates!  He is a good kid!  Cherish this time.  When its over, it is over.  And no matter what you think or feel, it will come to an end.
Best wishes and many prayers.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I forgot to say these events make wonderfully laughable stories to share with grandchildren in about 20 years.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad he is ok! My sister's daughter wrecked her BRAND NEW car 1 month after getting it. Totaled it out. Lucky for her she was okay. She was 16.

Anonymous said...

I think I'm gonna slap Brett up side his head when I get there....then run like hell.