My son plays JV football Saturday mornings for the North Olmsted Eagles, but the JV team suits up and goes to the varsity games Friday night...to support the team, as well as being available to play if needed. Every Friday after school, several of the guys walk to the neighborhood McDonald's for dinner and walk back to the high school. The problem is, the straightest shot to Micky D's is across a 5-lane street (2 lanes each way, plus the turn lane). And of course the boys (and everyone else, for that matter) cross where it's most convenient, and not at the crosswalks 90 yards to the east or west.
Well, 3 weeks ago my son and 2 of his teammates had just crossed back over when they were approached by a police car. Oh yeah, did I mention that the police station is on one of those corners 90 yards away??
Anyway, they were all given tickets - for jaywalking. They were mortified - especially my son. "But Mom, I'm a good kid! I don't GET into trouble!!" And he doesn't...none of them do. My goodness, when he was little, that boy would pick up litter from the parking lot as we went into a store. Instead of asking for candy and gum at the checkout line, he'd be putting it all back in order. He's in honors classes...gets As and Bs. He doesn't know how to lie. He gives unsolicited hugs and listens to my rantings and ravings and stories...and remembers my clients' names and what houses they're buying or selling. Everyone loves him! But...he still broke the law.
So there we were last Friday, at Juvenile Court. Yes, he had to go downtown to court, and go before a judge to "plead guilty" to jaywalking and face a possible $400 fine. The judge did a very fine job of scaring the heck out of him, but let him off easy. "Since it's your first offense, we're collecting turkeys for Thanksgiving and I want you to bring 2 frozen turkeys back to the courthouse on November 23rd."
Whew. We can do that. It helps those less fortunate, and still teaches a lesson. Even if the law is a "silly one", it's there to protect everyone. There have been folks hurt and killed while jaywalking, and the driver is the one who must live with that guilt the rest of their lives. And I'll be ever thankful that those kids didn't become a statistic.
Oh yeah, while we were waiting our turn to go before the judge, one of the other Moms said, "I've never been here before, and I don't want to EVER come back! " AMEN to that!!
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