Why didn’t you go with Laquita in the police car…what do you mean you didn’t want to lose your place in line? You silly bitch, she’s got my money and my shopping list…what? Oh, good. Did you get everything…that’s good honeychild, thank you.”
Don’t forget to bring my change Tina, that’s why Laquita had my money in the first place, you got a problem getting my money back to me… OK baby…I’m hanging up now.”
Mother James settled down in her recliner as Nick patiently waited with the phone as she got comfortable. “I’ll take it now Nick…Sarah, how are you…what! Tell me everything real slow…I just took my blood pressure pills I need to get calm…now go ahead Sarah, what happened?”
“Laquita got mad and jumped the check-out line at WalMart with two carts full of everything. According to Tina she was told by the cashier to go to the back of the line, Tina said the manager, a big fat nasty cracker pushed her cart out of the line and she just lost it AnnieMae.”
“Sarah, what happened to her…,” “Well, she beat up two security guards and the manager before the police maced her, threw her to the floor and cuffed her.” Mother Annie Mae James took off her glasses, shook her head and said, “Lawd! Have Mercy Jeezus.”
“Sarah, where is Tina? Didn’t she go with her to that damn sale?” “AnnieMae she’s alright, she got all the gifts and is on her way home.” “Sarah who is with Laquita?”
“Laquita is now at the precinct jail…no injuries just a little scrape on her forhead, she left the hospital but they will transport her to the Jailhouse by Meadowbrook Hospital sometime tonight or tomorrow. She still has to be arraigned.” Mother James put the phone to the other ear and had Nick bring her some orange juice.
“Sarah, Laquita is just under a lot of pressure and this don’t help, go down to the courthouse and tell the judge about what she’s going through…” “AnnieMae they might take her kids from her and we don’t want our great-grand babies in foster care.”
“She just got out of the Army Sarah, maybe the Veteran’s Administration can help?” “With what AnnieMae, the gat damned Army made her crazy to begin with…talk to RJ about getting her a lawyer, and if Veteran’s can help, he would know how to go about getting it done.”
“Sarah, I don’t want to bother RJ too much, I mean he got a lot on him, the mortgage, the taxes, the new oil burner, the new windows to replace the ones Tyrell busted out, he’s got to help Jessie get his car out of the shop and then he’s got to go back to the hospital to get his knee looked at.” “AnnieMae, he’s a single man with no kids, I might have to pull a few strings to get a lawyer, but we’re gonna need help with bail money…”
"Sarah, RJ took Jake in after bailing him out of jail, got him a good lawyer who got Jake off of the charges and RJ paid high legal fees, all he got was cursed out by Jake and Emmie. He told them both what to do and they didn’t do it. Jake is back in Jail and Emmie is looking for more help.” “But look AnnieMae he’s the only one who gets things done.” “Look Sarah I’ll see what I can get him to do. Honey I got to go.”
After coming home from another day of some freelance work, bone tired, aching and stressed over the electric bill and the oil charges, Mother James (my Mom) dropped this bombshell on me.
She wanted me to not only help with bail money, a lawyer and VA contact but with using my room to put Laquita’s kids into while she is in the County jail.
“RJ, you got no kids, your wife is dead, you don’t have a woman that’s any good and Laquita needs help.”
I knew she was picking at scabs looking for me to blow up so she could use it as an excuse to get my brother to do what she wanted as an end around. A reverse of the adage “if mommy won’t daddy will”. I sat down and looked at my mother after she had brought up the past, revisiting all of her hardships and noting I was nowhere around to help (7 years in the Marines, the rest in Law Enforcement and various Ministries across the country and an Ocean). Then I quietly recited the riot act. I started of by saying, "HELL NO!"
“Listen, I’m saying this once, don’t interrupt, don’t even think about justifying anything, just listen: 1) Your tired, hurting and can’t even help yourself cook and clean or walk let alone go messing around the Court house.
2) Laquita has a mother, your daughter Emmie, bother her about getting her soldier girl out of jail. Let Emmie tell the judge about her PTSD afflicted daughter who did three tours and lost a lover and her husband, a husband who did two tours in Afghanistan himself. 3) I don’t have the time, patience, compassion or mindset to deal with anyone’s problems save mine.”
“Finally Ma, stress and depression have been all I’ve been getting for the holiday’s over the last 10 years. I’m doing something different this year. I’m gonna stress everybody else, especially you, if you do anything except what is reasonable and right for your immediate family inside this house. If you don’t keep me happy you won’t have a merry Christmas and you won’t have me around either. I can’t have yesterday but I can possibly have a better tomorrow, with or without any of you.”
Mom said, “What kind of Christian attitude is that, would Jesus do that?”
I said, “If Christ was here he’d cast the demons out of your daughters and cast the devil out of your grandchildren, then he would whip you all out of the temple."
I said, "Since your looking for a Jesus solution, don’t come to me. Go to Jesus, it’s amazing, Jesus wasn’t with any of your kids or grandkids when they did their silly bullshit, but they feel free to drag Jesus’ righteous whip scarred ass into it. You will leave me out of it.”
“RJ, that’s your family.” “No its not, as you constantly remind me, my wife is dead, I have no kids .”
I said, “If any of them were my family and not just relatives, I would put my foot in their asses, have them on their knees in prayer and in Church on Sunday Morning thanking Jesus for not being in jail or on the six o’clock news. This year everybody is going to make me happy by doing right, being right and loving each other…and no, love does not need my money. Tell that thieving preacher you listen to and the rest of his crooked congregation to help Laquita instead of just praying."
Mom threw up her hands and didn’t say another word for the rest of the day. The issue is the holidays, why would anybody go berserk in a checkout line? I thought about it, I had to see my doctor anyway (I have to check in once every six months since the last blood pressure episode) I told the doctor about Laquita, Mom and the rest, so I paid a visit and this is the information I got.
The Doctor said, “RJ, it’s the holiday blues. Many factors can cause the “holiday blues”: stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial constraints, and the inability to be with one’s family and friends. The demands of shopping, parties, family reunions and house guests also contribute to feelings of tension.
Because of the economic stress and the stress of the holiday season, we're seeing more and more violence. It's called shopping rage. The crowds, the crush, and the frenzied rush for bargains can trigger fights.
People may also develop other stress responses such as headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating and difficulty sleeping. Even more people experience post-holiday let down after January 1.
This can result from disappointments during the preceding months compounded by the excess fatigue and stress. RJ, you need to develop a strategy for coping with stress as you deal with the holidays.
I said, “OK, Doc like what exactly should I do.” Dr. Bevamanya said, “I can’t tell you what to do but I can give you some professional advice: 1) Keep expectations for the holiday season manageable. Try to set realistic goals for yourself. Pace yourself. Organize your time. Make a list and prioritize the important activities.
2) Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Don’t put the entire focus on just one day (i.e., Thanksgiving Day). Remember that it’s a season of holiday sentiment, and activities can be spread out to lessen stress and increase enjoyment.
The Doctor continued her discourse while handing me brochures, “3) Remember the holiday season does not banish reasons for feeling sad or lonely; there is room for these feelings to be present, even if the person chooses not to express them.
4) Leave ‘yesteryear’ in the past and look toward the future. Life brings changes. Each season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way. Don’t set yourself up in comparing today with the ‘good ol’ days.’ 5) Spend time with supportive and caring people. Reach out and make new friends, or contact someone you haven’t heard from in a while.”
Try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a new way, also be aware that excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression.”
After I left the Doctor I thought about what I said and did in response to being used as a bail bondsman.
I was right and the Doctor confirmed it. Health isn’t confined to someone’s overworked heart, good health also includes one’s stressed out head. I went straight home, locked myself in the garage and had a drink.
Bail yourself out of all kinds of nonsense and have a wonderful holiday season.
Have a Happy Hanukah, or a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
(The crooked congregation gave a donation to let the soldier girl out of jail. Laquita is out on bail pending a psych evaluation)
RJ
I can Relate to holiday blues. But we all have to remeber there is always someone out there who has it even worse.
ReplyDeleteThe holiday season is always stress filled in good times. Its hell in bad times. The best we can do is find the humor in the bad and share the best of what is good.
ReplyDeleteNice intro story to get the message across... Happy holidays, I aint stressin' em, lool
ReplyDelete