CHRISTMAS IN JAIL

CHRISTMAS IN JAIL


It had been a long, hard year and now that winter had arrived, it seemed to last forever. He wasn't used to the Northern temperatures and didn't own warm clothes. But it was warm inside the Pub where he worked nights making fast food and serving drinks behind the bar.

The boss closed and locked the doors early for their annual Christmas party where the staff got to mix & mingle for an evening of good times, free food and all the alcohol one wanted.

He hadn't taken the time to eat properly as he was primarily interested in making tips these days. It was his goal to get back into school to complete his college education. The free spirits hit his empty stomach very fast and it wasn't long before he had a good buzz going.

A few dances, a few jokes and lots of spirits later, he passed his car keys to his boss and said "See y'all tomorrow, boss; I'm walking home."

"Well, ok but don't freeze to death. Merry Christmas!"

With head down to avoid the cold, he walked quickly, aware that he was staggering a bit. Soon he'd be home and in his warm bed; one of his room-mate's may have already left for his parents home down South for the Holidays. But Karl should be home tonight.

He approached the door but found it was locked; damn, he didn't have his house key as it was with his set of car keys which he'd given to his boss. He knocked and knocked and as he began to get very cold, he yelled "Open the damn door!!"

Realizing that he may be yelling to an empty apartment, he decided to break the glass around the front door knob. Surely that wouldn't cost much to replace later; better than freezing to death! As he broke the glass with a small rock, he was just reaching inside to open the door with his numb hands when the Cops pulled up.

They grabbed him and handcuffed him and threw him in the patrol car. There must be some mistake! He was charged with burglary and God only knew what else!

Apparently, he had attemped to enter a young lady's apartment instead of his own. Her boyfriend and she thought he was going to rob or harm them and called 911. The apartments were close together and the doors looked identical.

For the very first time in his life he found himself in jail. He was allowed one phone call but was not allowed to call information to obtain anyone's phone number. He could not recall either one of his parents numbers and too, they were both long distance.

He tried to call his room-mate's cell but as he was away, he had it turned off. He did manage to leave a message on their apartment answering machine; but no-one was there that time of year.

No-one knew where he was! Christmas came and went as he sat in a crowded, dirty cell with a bunch of criminals who hated him.

Meanwhile, his parents were frantic with worry. His mother lived out of the country and started calling all of the hospitals emergency rooms close to where her son resided. Nothing was found and no-one knew a thing.

It was the very worst christmas of his and her lives. She hoped, since he was 22 now, he had met a chick and gone to her home for the Holidays. But in her own heart, she knew he'd never avoid his Mum at Christmas. She wondered if he had received his box of gifts and money.

His dad, who lived down South, was also worried sick but both felt helpless. Their son's cell phone was silent. They didn't even know the name of the establishment where he worked.

New Years came and it became unbearable inside the jail. Threats were made; his food was stolen; he became filled with fear and anxiety. Christmas day passed without any hope of survival.

He went before the Judge and asked for a court appointed attorney. He had no way to post his bail so was returned to jail. It was overcrowded and old and loud; he was so cold, so hungry, so scared. It was Hell!

When he finally heard from his room-mate who had returned to their apartment and retrieved his message, he asked him to find his dad's phone number to alert him to where he was. Weeks had now passed; they were frantic.

His mother took the news the hardest and it almost killed her. She immediately called the room-mate to ask about the amount of his bail and borrowed the money to spring him with. He walked out of jail after what seemed like a lifetime.

His lawyer was a good one and he was able to keep it off his record; the only fine was to pay for the broken glass.

She hopes her son learned a lesson. One cannot live their lives for them but it still hurts deeply when one of our own is in such trouble with the law.

As far as Christmas, there wasn't one for that family that year. But she remembers the relief she felt that he was NOT dead; jail she could accept and she thanked God it wasn't worse. And she is eternally grateful for her relative's loan of money.

Alcohol has never been and never will be on her lips and she prays it will be off her son's, as well. Four years later, maybe it already is; all she can do is pray.