"A child? oh yes him, he's mine. No no, let him go he'll be fine. It's ok, I know he's close to the edge. I'm sure he'll be fine. Opps. Oh stop crying your fine. Get up. LOOK AT YOU! Your all covered in mud now! Sorry, you'll have to excuse me I need to talk to Junior. WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT PLAYING AROUND IN YOUR GOOD CLOTHS! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF MY MONEY I SPEND ON THOSE CLOTHS........" His voice faded from my ear drums as he walked away, the child being dragged indoors by his ear.
I have known Lawrence for a long time, since we were children I do believe. We grew up side by side, and back to back when things got a little rough. We were such a good duo, Lawrence and I. Nothing we didn't do together. Fights, exploration, fights, goofing off, fights, dates.....Yes as you can probable tell, my friend has a temper. His fuse was about as long as my thumb....nail. It's what got us into so much trouble as children, I have the scars to prove it. Always running his mouth, and the other children were just as happy to run theirs as well. They didn't like us all to well, but that was fine as far as we were concerned. As long as we were together there was no stopping us.
Today was the first time I've seen Lawrence in about 12 years. Some how the world had managed to pry us apart, and toss one on one side of the country and the other in the opposite direction. I suppose it was because of what we wanted. Lawrence wanted to be a doctor, and had succeeded in every way. I myself wanted to be an English professor. Two years of college was all it took to break my spirits. We had lost touch when we graduated from school, at first we sent letter after letter, but then then the girl friends had come along and failing grades along with them. Of course Lawrence brought them up, I on the other hand......finally after digging around in my memories I found an old black and white picture with two smiling faces, turning to the back I saw an address and decided to write.
A mansion, was my first thought. A mansion. That loud child I had know so long ago was now living the good life, rich, famous, and with a child. Yes we were sitting in the massive patio in the back of his hou...I mean mansion when that cute little fellow came out side, still dressed in his church cloths. Of course I hadn't noticed him at first, he was tiny and only about 4 or 5. When I finally saw him he was climbing up on to one of the walls that rose at the far sides of the patio. You know what happens next.
My visit was short, but an enjoyable one. That was the only time I had heard Lawrence raise his voice, and the last time I saw the child in my visit. After making my way back home I received a letter from Lawrence. It spoke of how many good memories my visit had brought him and how he'd like me, his closets friend, to live with him! Why you must have known my surprise at this! My house was small, and cluttered, his was huge and great. I wrote a letter about why the sudden invitation. I got this letter in reply;
"I know this was sudden and unexpected, but so was the tragedy that befell my son and I. My wonderful, wife Rasa had become very sick and has passed. This house is big and there are only two of us now. And this is why I invite you my closets friend to quit your life of a poor man and join the rich."
Short and to the point. This was a shock and both sadness and joy rushed through me. I sent a letter describing my sympathy and joy. With in the month I had moved in.
Well Lawrence is a mess. He's completely devastated by the loss of his beautiful wife. He tells me how he spent hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars on funeral arrangements and flowers. "whats the point of all this money when all I cared about is gone?"
The years drag on, and the happy times are out numbered by the sad times by a ratio of 3:1. Lawrence is dragged deeper and deeper into depression with each passing year, and as his depression grows so does his temper. He never raises his voice to me, his one true friend, but his son on the other hand.....poor Junior. His father's sadness and anger at the world is often taken out on the child whether it's with his voice or....there are happy times. I remember when Lawrence bought J.R. that bike, and when they went to that amusement park for the whole day. Good times. But those memories are to often pushed away, to the back of my mind, by the other memories of Lawrence spending countless hours at the tavern, wasting his wealth on prostitutes and beer.
Thinking of these sorrowful times, my mind can't help but bring up the time J.R. was sent away too Military school. He was about 15 at the time, and out of control. Him and his friends always getting into trouble, whether it be talking back to Lawrence or Sneaking into Mrs.Betty's house to do who knows what. Lawrence yelled and hit, but with each blow or word J.R. seemed to get more and more defiant. There were curses and swearing. I thought J.R. was going to take a swing at his old man, but after I stepped in they both settled down and J.R. went without a fight.
Life goes on. Lawrence buys a car and crashes it. After fixing it up again he promises to be a little more careful, but of course he doesn't. He still blows his money on beer and women, old habits die hard I suppose. At least he remembers to buy food and clothes, but that's probable because I remind him to do so.
Yes Life does go on, and J.R. is back from school. He comes arms open wide, waiting for his dad to hug him....and he does. I stare in disbelief as they embrace. Next thing I know their out cruising around in Hawaii. Then Lawrence buys J.R. an inscribed diamond ring! Then Lawrence is gone, and leaving his sun a check for 20,000 and his mansion.
J.R. lets me live with him, thank God. He's upset about his dad's death but I haven't

Advice to Ruby Cathy by Sean Halsel

Dear Ms.Cathy,
I'm sorry to hear about your mother's death. Also I think that you need to know upfront that life is miserable. It's just something that you have to get used to. The best thing for you is to stay with a relative, that way you won't have to deal with your abusive father. Also, Phyllisia cannot be helped. She is gonna continue to rebel no matter what. You need to do what's best for you. The fact that Phyllisia
Is abandoning you is not going to change. She is a selfish person. The way she abandoned her friend Edith is the same way she will abandon you. Also, your father is nothing but an abusive liar who will never get over himself.
You need to leave and stay with someone else. I honestly hope things get better.
                Your doctor,
                 Sean Halsel