I was home a total of two full days when I decided that I couldn\u2019t take the boredom any more. My old boss had offered to let me resume my job as a dishwasher at a restaurant in downtown Tulsa, and I immediately called and asked if I could pick up some shifts.<\/p>\n
He seemed thrilled by the idea. It was a shitty job, but it would do. And it would be better than sitting around at home bored to death. Taking the bus there and back was a pain in the ass. It was a twenty minute drive, but it took over an hour each way by bus.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t in the greatest of areas, and it was a little difficult to stay away from the people, the bars, and the drugs that had gotten me into trouble the first time.\u00a0 But I was managing okay.<\/p>\n
I was counting down the days until I could see Olivia. I was trying to get everything I needed to out of the way.<\/p>\n
I left work just before the dinner rush, after having making arrangements with my boss. I walked several blocks to my parole officer\u2019s office and sat in the waiting room uncomfortably. There were at least a dozen gruff looking guys in there. They all had tattoos and wore ruddy clothes. I felt like I didn\u2019t belong there, either.<\/p>\n
The receptionist called me into the hallway where the different offices were. She handed me a little plastic cup with an orange lid on it and informed me that as part of my probation I was required to give a random urine test.<\/p>\n
I knew this. I\u2019d done it before. I was used to the occasional piss-test from my parole officer.\u00a0 In fact, I\u2019d expected it. I drank a few extra glasses of water in anticipation of some kind of drug test.<\/p>\n
I went into the washroom while she stood outside the door and gave my sample.<\/p>\n
I returned and placed the cup on her clipboard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, just in here.\u201d She motioned to the open office door.<\/p>\n
I nodded and walked inside, plopping down onto the stiff metal chair. I leaned back and exhaled the breath I\u2019d been holding in.<\/p>\n
I folded my arms over my stomach. My palms were already starting to sweat. I was feeling nervous already.<\/p>\n
I knew I was in for an even longer lecture than the one I\u2019d gotten from my dad. I was barely even in the door five minutes before my dad sat me down at the kitchen table and lectured me on how I needed to obey the rules of the house or I\u2019d get shipped back to school. No exceptions.<\/p>\n
I sighed and turned my head to look out the window.<\/p>\n
The door burst open and my parole officer came in, holding my file. \u201cHello, Mr. Hanson. How are you?\u201d He asked.<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cI\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The parole officer was a tall balding man who wore polo shirts and blue jeans. He was round in the middle; he looked like he\u2019d been spending too much time eating donuts with the local cops.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, me too.\u201d He chuckled, plopping down behind his desk. \u201cSo your parents have passed on all of your current marks and your teachers letters of recommendation, and I must say, you are doing quite well at this new school. There are no complaints about you, your teachers are all raving about you. That is excellent.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd are you keeping your nose clean in everything else in your life?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you asking about the drug and alcohol stuff?\u201d I asked, frowning.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrecisely.\u201d He nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t had a drink since rehab. I haven\u2019t had any drugs, not even so much as a Tylenol since rehab. I even quit smoking.\u201d<\/p>\n
He raised his eyebrows. \u201cReally? That\u2019s excellent, Isaac. I had your urine tested, and I can see that you\u2019re clean.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cI am doing everything I\u2019m supposed to. I\u2019m not doing drugs, I\u2019m not smoking, and I\u2019m not drinking. I\u2019m not fighting or gambling or participating any other illegal activity. I\u2019m going to all of my classes; I\u2019m improving all of my grades. I\u2019m working toward my high school diploma, as my probation strictly outlines. I\u2019m not driving because even if I wanted to, my license has been suspended and my car is totaled. My parents don\u2019t trust me as far as they can throw me and-\u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what about your old friends? Have you been seeing them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I\u2019ve been avoiding all temptation.\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever had a parolee respond so well to probation. I think this might be exactly what you need to change your life around. Believe it or not, you were lost, Mr. Hanson. But you\u2019re changing yourself for the better, which is a good thing for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded, barely listening. This was another lecture that I wasn\u2019t entirely interested in hearing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour parents are sure that you\u2019re doing very well. Have you given any thought to what you want to do in the future?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cNo idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I can tell you that with these marks.\u201d He rummaged through my file. \u201cYou would be a perfect candidate for university or college. And most would be happy to take you on despite of your recent legal troubles.\u201d He paused, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms over his large stomach. \u201cI can tell you, however that I can help you with this mess. What we can do here is that on my recommendation I can go before a judge and testify, as well as your parents and family members should they choose to do that\u2026 we can also have any of your teachers write letters of recommendations in lieu of testifying. Because you are under eighteen, you are completing the terms of your probation with flying colors, we can work to having your record expunged.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned. \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, what that means is that your charges won\u2019t be dropped. But they will not show up in the future. As it stands now, your records as it stands are already sealed. This means that if a university or college or even an employer were to look into your criminal history, they would be able to see that there is something there; a mark or a blemish in your record. But they would not be able to tell what it was. If your record were to be expunged, and someone were to look into your criminal past, they would see nothing. This would help you get jobs and further your education, whatever you choose to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cThat would be great. Let\u2019s do that.\u201d I said quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. I am more than willing to help you out here. The only thing is that you have only been on probation for ten months. You still have another two left to go before I can say that you have completed your probation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d I said slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cProvided you keep up the excellent work. I\u2019ll keep checking your marks in school, and what I\u2019ll do is get in contact with your principal\u2026 Mr.\u2026\u201d He leaned forward to check his notes.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirestone.\u201d I finished.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. I\u2019ll have him set up a couple of random drug tests for you at the local clinic\u2026 just as a formality\u2026 and in two months, we\u2019ll have you come back and we\u2019ll meet with your lawyers and go from there. There\u2019s still several months before your eighteenth birthday, so there is plenty of time to have everything taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cAnd what about my license?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell\u2026 that would depend on the judge. However, in most cases like this one\u2026 the judge still enforces the termination of the license. That means you will still have to wait two years from the date you were charged and start all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was not looking forward to redoing driving school.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything else you would like to discuss with me?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cNo thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay then. I\u2019d like to see you one more time before you go back to school, so if you\u2019d like you could make an appointment with my receptionist now or wait and call at a later date.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, thanks.\u201d I said, standing.<\/p>\n
My parole officer stood as well and shook my hand.<\/p>\n
I all too excitedly left the room.<\/p>\n