After breakfast, Mom said a boy named Joe called and wanted me to call him back. The only Joe I associated with was Joe Garoutte and I thought he was gone for the summer. His folks did Mental Health work for the Federal Prison System. I shrugged and said I'd see what he wanted.
As I left Mom and Dads bedroom they were hugging and I thought Mom was going to have Dad suck her tits and I smiled thinking about it.
I called Joe and he wanted me to come over because he needed to talk to somebody. I thought this was strange because Joe and I weren't good friends. Yeah, we palled around at school and seen each other off and on during the summers but that's it.
I went to check with Mom about supper and Dad was sitting on the bed sucking her tits. Mom said Dad brought home cashew chicken so I could eat later if I wanted to go over to Joe's. Before leaving the bedroom I said, "Do a good job Dad, Mom's enjoying it."
Dad didn't respond but Mom motioned me to go with her hand and said, "Go on you, you've had your turn."
I smiled and left. Before leaving the house I grabbed an apple and headed out. On the way to Joe's house I wondered why he would want to talk to me. When I got there, I could tell Joe was nervous. He said, "Come on in," and we went to his room. Everything was quiet and Joe was fidgeting, which made me nervous. I asked, "What's the matter?"
Joe responded with, "You're the only friend I figured I could talk to. Some bad shit has happened with my parents. They're getting a divorce." He was almost crying.
I said, "Calm down Man, and tell me about it if you want to."
"You know my folks work for the prison system," he started.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Well, Mom was caught fucking some black prisoner and she's been arrested. Dad won't bail her out and he sent me home last night. He told me to just stay home while he saw about a divorce and maybe doing something about Mom."
Now Joe was crying.
He said, "I don't know what to do. I can't stay here and I don't have the money to go to Grandma's. This shit is fucking bad. I can't understand why Mom would do what she did or why Dad won't help her. I need another hundred dollars to go to Grandma's. Can you help me out?"
I said I didn't have it but maybe we could get some money from Reece, Pete, Tim and Ron. Surely we could all pitch in and get the money he needed.
Joe said, "Would you do that for me, I mean, would you really help me like that?"
I said, "Sure Man, and we don't have to tell anybody what's going on. Between all of us we should be able to get the money you need."
Joe grabbed me and hugged me saying, "Thanks Man, Thanks."
I told Joe I'd make the rounds and be back as soon as I could. I hit everybody up for however much they could spare to help Joe get to his Grandparents. In the end I got two hundred twenty bucks and nobody asked any questions. I thought, "Shit, my friends are better than I thought."
When I got back to Joe's I gave him the money and he couldn't believe the guys gave him so much.
I said, "Look, don't do something stupid like running off somewhere. Go to your Grandmas. Leave your Dad a note in case he comes home while you're gone and as soon as you get to your Grandmas call your Dad and tell him where you are."
I stayed as Joe packed a suitcase and he told me the story. His Mom and Dad were doing their social work with the prisoners and he was in the wreck room with his Dad when the Guards came running through to the counseling center.
His Dad went after them and out of curiosity he followed. He saw his Mom naked on the floor under a naked black man. The guards swarmed on the black prisoner beating him and handcuffed him.
Two other guards grabbed his naked Mom and handcuffed her on the floor. They stood both of them up and made nasty comments about them.
There was his Mom standing naked in handcuffs in a room full of guards, his Dad and him. Joe said he was dumbfounded. His Dad kept saying, "How could you?"
It was several minutes before his Mom looked up and gasped. She said, "Goddamn it, why did you let Joe in here! Get him out of here!"
One of the guards said, "Naw, he's old enough and should see what his slut mother did."
He said his Dad still hadn't moved and his Mom was cussing about getting him out of there. Finally the guards started taking the two out of the office, still naked.
Once in the counseling center the guards made sure that each of them faced all of the cameras. "We got the two of you playing around in here recorded and now were getting the end result recorded." One of the guards said, "You're going to do time for this, Bitch."
Joe said he didn't like that. His Mom wanted them to cover her with something but the guards said that would have to wait until she was in the processing room. Joe's Dad finally grabbed him as the guards took his naked Mom through the cell block.
Joe and his Dad were waiting in the Wreck center when the Captain walked in. He told Joe's Dad that they had the two on tape kissing, hugging, and playing with each others genitals before they went into the office where there weren't cameras.
He said, "Karen is facing some serious felony charges and with the tape evidence, in this state, she will do time. You and your son need to leave now Mr. Garoutte. I'm sorry they didn't keep the boy out. Mrs. Garoutte will be processed here first and then taken to the Federal Courthouse. You won't be able to see her until then."
The Captain escorted them to the car and they left. Joe said his Dad finally spoke and said he wasn't going to bail her out but would see to it she got a lawyer as soon as possible. Not saying his Moms name, just referring to her, as her.
That's when Joe's Dad put him on a bus and sent him home.
I said, "That sure was bad, but, she's your Mom, man! Don't condemn her because she made a mistake. And don't blame your Dad for not helping her. They both need you right now. And, for Gods sake, don't tell your Grandma what happened. Let them do it. I'll keep my mouth shut so don't say anything to anyone else. You and your folks don't need any shit from this town."
I went with Joe to the bus station and waited with him for his bus. I talked about Stephanie and other stuff to keep his mind off of what was happening. Before Joe got on the bus he hugged me and thanked me again. I told him to take care of himself and things would work out.
I went home and was eating in the kitchen when Mom walked in.
She could tell I was preoccupied with something and came over and gave me hug, as she asked, "Do you need to talk?"
"Not right now Mom, maybe later. Thanks." I said.
"When you're ready, just let me know." Mom said and she hugged me again.
