Youth Court Rules My Life

Youth Court...not for me, for my son, geez. My son is 13, and I do mean he is 13. Not a fun fucking age for anyone, but he seems to be taking it harder than most. He is a bit of a trouble finder, or maker, whatever (semantics). He took weed to school one day and got caught (oh, and for the record, I don't smoke that shit, I'm allergic). As a result, he was arrested and expelled. These schools don't play with that shit at all anymore. When I was in school there was a group of "burners". We all knew the did the "wake and bake" bit, we just didn't care and neither did the school. Of course, they weren't exactly in the accelerated courses. Their days were mostly spent in wood or auto shop, but what the hell, they showed up. If they even tried to get through school now, they would be expelled and arrested, too.

Anyway, this Youth Court program here is an interesting program. The kids try cases themselves (they are the attorneys) with an adult judge and a jury of kids. It is supposedly very effective for first time offenders. Well, my son got a lucky break and if he completes the program, he will not have an arrest record. So anyway, every week we have to trek down to the courthouse for him to do community service. We also have to take these courses about drugs and alcohol (I am pretty tired of hearing about how I shouldn't drink-I didn't commit any crimes, why should I be punished?). By the time all is said and done, at least 3 days of my week are affected by this program. Now, for your normal, married, plain Jane house Frau this would not be a problem. For me, it is agony. I have things to do, places to go, laundry to bleach! What the hell am I going to do in downtown Del Ray for 2 hours? Then today it hit me....there are bars down there. Lots of them. I could stop in for a drinky or two....but NOOOOO! I have to go pick the kid up from this Youth Court where drinking is considered evil (evil, not Evil....know the difference...though Evil loves to drink, they think drinking is Evil but I cannot be interchanged with the action of drinking and as far as I know I am still the noun Evil not the verb).

So, to make a long story short, Youth Court is now in complete control of my drinking habits and whereabouts at least 3 days a week. Yippie freaking doo.