The most recent drama in our lives (this is measured by minutes not by days or weeks) was a call from 911 telling me to go to an intersection near our home. It was around the corner so I got there in minutes. As I am walking up to the scene I see a young man in the median getting a sobriety test. A little part of me hoped it was Dallas, hoped this was a the wake up call for him that I was waiting for. Another part of me was scared breathless. If he is drinking and driving, and without a license, what will he chose to do next?

The story was that Dallas was a passenger in his friends car. He and two friends had been drinking earlier in the evening and were returning home to his friends house after dropping off another friend at home. He got in the turn lane and hit the gas instead of the brake and was unable to correct the mistake. The car ran into the median hitting a traffic sign and landing in a concrete ditch. An unknown person stopped and helped them get the car off the concrete drainage piece and then told them to push the car back into the street and get out of there. The police arrived as Michael was trying to push the car up the incline of the ditch.

The driver blew a .27 on the breathalizer. That is over 3 times the legal limit. He is a small guy, only 120 pounds but that level of intoxication still required lots of alcohol. There were also two bottles of liquor found in the car. Michael had to write a statement and was released into my custody. I did give Dallas a alcohol test when we got home. I am using the Alcopro saliva tests. His level was less than .02, the lowest that this test will measure. We found out that his friend has been charged with a DUI, open container, child neglect (since Dalla is only 15), and another charge for the accident.

This kid is 21 and has never been in trouble. I spoke with his mother and she apologized for her son putting Dallas in danger. She has had concerns about them being friends and actually told her son to stay away from Dallas. The age difference worried her and the fact that her son did drink alcohol. She stated that he has always been slower to mature socially and she feels he is enjoying the friendships he has made and is wanting to experience life more than he has.Why did she not call me then? I almost feel as if she is transfering some of the blame onto Dallas for the incident. I do believe he has some ownership in what happened. He paid for the alcohol, got into the car with someone who had been drinking, and was not a good enough friend to not allow his friend to drive after drinking.  Her daughter told her one night that the boys had gotten drunk and were unable to go home. This was one night that he stayed the night at her house and I am sad that she did not call me that day to discuss this. We might have been able to avoid this situation.

Of course there is the neighborhood gossip that has already occured and I feel as if all eyes are on me. That my son is responsible for everything that happened. I am the first to admit that he is not innocent but I also feel that there is a level of responsiblity that a legal adult has to a minor. Alot of bad judgement calls and decisions were made. I just pray that this will be a learning experience. I have to remember that there is a reason for everything. I just can not see the reasoning for any of this but hope to one day know what it is.