Many States have “Lemon laws” that provide a remedy for purchasers of cars and other consumer goods in order to compensate for products that repeatedly fail to meet standards of quality and performance.
Unfortunately, said laws don’t pertain to human beings, particularly children. If you produce a dud, you’re stuck with him or her and a lifetime of disappointment and, in some cases, shame.
We have one grandchild (out of 18, as I recall, most of whom I haven’t met) that fits the description of a lemon. He started out as an outstanding kid, but the wheels came off when he was a Junior in high school and got involved in alcohol and drugs and, eventually, a minor burglary. Since that time, he has been very disrespectful to his elders and to society as a whole. This substance-enlightened fellow thinks that he is the smartest guy in any room and constantly makes deprecating comments about others’ opinions on any matter, usually with a wise ass demeanor.
He has recently found himself in a Hell of a mess of his own doing.
It appears that he will be arraigned today on a D.U.I. charge. When arrested, it was found that he was driving on a suspended license. In addition, it appears that he may have evaded and resisted arrest. Normally, these would be serious matters that would probably result in a substantial fine and possibly suspension of his driver’s license
Of course, his license had already been suspended and he was driving illegally, so the Court would tend to be annoyed at such an individual. However, the biggest problem that the 31-year-old has now is that this isn’t his first D.U.I.: it is his fourth! California has draconian punishments for 4-time D.U.I. violators.
(With good reason. We knew a guy back in the day who was an alcoholic real estate broker who was well-known and -liked in his community. He had at least five D.U.I.’s on his record, but had been treated with kid gloves in the past by prosecutors and judges because he was considered a good guy in the community. Then, he got drunk at a Christmas party, drove off in his car, crashed into another car, and killed a mother and her young child. The court threw the book at him (belatedly!) and California law was soon changed to provide progressively harsh punishment for serial D.U.I.ers.)
To compound matters, it appears that our grandson didn’t show up to Court for his 3rd D.U.I., which means that there has been a bench warrant outstanding on him for quite a while. Law enforcement and the criminal justice system don’t look kindly on scofflaws who thumb their nose at the law (unless you’re billionaire Donald Trump and his army of attorneys!)
Our hero’s parents, who are recently retired and fit to be tied over his latest self-induced fuck-up, are trying their mightiest to help their son. However, they don’t have the wherewithal to afford him a high-priced lawyer or throw his bail. It is a clusterfuck that seems to be getting worse by the minute.
To be honest, the best thing that could happen to our grandson is for the Court to deal harshly with him. He’s had every opportunity in life and has squandered that, instead opting to “chill” with his substance-abusing friends, put forth minimal effort in growing up, and adopt a smirking, disrespectful attitude toward society and its laws. He was given an extra ten years or so to “grow up” and he still acts like a teenager.
He needs a forceful slap in the face: “Wake up!”
There was once a TV series called “Scared Straight”, which involved troubled youngsters being taken to prison to meet the losers who were spending serious time there. This was designed as an “eye opener” for these smart alecks, hopefully putting the fear of God into them and steering them away from criminal behavior. I would like to say that it helped, but I don’t know. (One of our four sons had to spend some jail time years ago due to a lot of unpaid parking tickets and, believe me, it scared him straight… he’s been a hard-working paragon of virtue ever since.)
This latest drama should be the defining moment of our grandson’s life. He is going to get punished and he can either straighten himself out or his life will go down the toilet.
It is time, as the saying goes, for our grandson to “make lemonade out of lemons”.
I hope he realizes this.