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May 15, 2006
Those Nutty Hobos
On Saturday the boys and I were on our way to run errands and, as often happens, a couple of the boys had got a head start and beat me out the door. They beat me only by a minute or two -- but, that seems to have been plenty of time.
When I stepped around the garage I saw two of the boys in the alley by a big puddle. Naturally. Sam's newest bike was behind him.
"Boys! Let's go," I commanded, and they started toward me. "Sammo ... don't forget your bike," I added, as he seemed to have forgotten his bike.
"I need to throw this bottle away," he said.
"Why do you need to throw the bottle away." I asked.
"Jack," which was all I needed to hear, "threw a rock and broke it, and a man told us we had to pick it up," said Sam.
I got some more information on the man and determined he was likely to be in the dry cleaning place right next to the rock-throwing-incident place.
I walked over to the Dry Cleaner's and asked to speak to the man -- I gave the description Jack gave me. The gal at the counter told me it was probably Joe and told me I could go back. I'd never been behind the scenes of a dry cleaner's and in a geeky kind of way was curious to see what went on there. It wasn't as hot as I'd expected or as chemically smelling.
I found Joe (and his wife) standing near a big machine of some sort. When I caught Joe's eye I said, "I understand you just caught one of my boys breaking a bottle in the alley." Before he could form the oh crap ... not an asshole parent thought I continued, "I want to thank you for correcting him and having him pick up the pieces."
I made the point that I'd talked with Jack about the incident and I didn't think it would happen again. I explained that I lived in the Yellow House up the street and that I didn't want him to think heathens had moved in next door.
Joe and his wife were very kind. They said they had a boy of their own and knew that "boys will be boys."
I told them if it ever happened again and if they felt the need they could unwrap one of their wire hangers and chase Jack down the alley striping his legs. "I grew up in the 60's and I'll understand," I said.
Back in the van with Jack I, again, told Jack that breaking bottles was unacceptable and that it creates a hazard. I explained that it was most certainly illegal.
"But hobos do it all the time and never get in trouble," he argued.
Just where the hell is your mother taking you when I'm not around??
Later, at Kroger, the boys and I ran across a Hilliard Police Officer as he was stepping out of his cruiser. I stopped him and asked if it was OK for little boys to break bottles in alleys.
He told us it wasn't as it was littering and that if we see trash on the ground that we've no intention of throwing in a trash bin it is best to leave it alone. Trash on the ground is trash on the ground ... if you pick it up it is your trash.
I asked: "Does the fact that hobos break bottles in the street all the time and never get in trouble have any bearing on this?"
The officer, obviously a father, smiled and replied, "No. Not at all."
Posted by delmer at May 15, 2006 7:20 AM
Comments
You deserve a trophy come Father's Day. Well done, my friend.
Posted by: The Phoenix at May 15, 2006 10:22 PM
Good man...both of ya! ;)
Posted by: Angela Giles Klocke at May 16, 2006 7:08 AM
Thank you both.
I do what I can to make sure the boys realize they are responsible for their own actions.
Posted by: delmer at May 16, 2006 10:58 AM