Not Nearly Metta

Cage Bird

                “Mrs. Artest, I’m sorry to bother you at this time but it is an emergency and I don’t know who else to call” Mrs. Oaths said. “No its okay is everything okay Brenda” I said looking at the night stand clock that said it was 3:56 am. “It’s my son Eric he’s in jail”. “What” I said now jumping up no longer whispering. “What is it baby” Antonio asked as he turned around. I shhh him and continue to lesson to Mrs. Oats. “There was a break in while Damian and I were away. Jr and Eric tried to fight them off when Eric stabbed one for trying to rape Anna in the laundry room” she said crying. “Oh my God” I said not knowing what else to say. “Damian is at the hospital with Jr. He’ll be okay he was just beat really bad” she said. “Well that’s good that he’ll be okay” I said a little relief. “Eric is just 16 and he was arrested and thrown in there with other criminals, I don’t know what to do or who to call” she said crying harder. “Don’t worry, let me make some calls and get him in a holding cell alone. I’ll personally handle this case Brenda, everything is going to be okay I promise” I said getting up to walk to my purse. “Thank you so much Lela I don’t know how I will ever repay you for this” she said lighting up on her crying. “Say no more, just get some rest we have a lot to do in a short time. So tell your husband to do the same and if you can take pictures of the house and Jr yourself. I know the cops did but it wouldn’t hurt for you to have your own copy as well” I said flipping through my contacts. “Okay and I am sorry for waking you again” she said. “It’s not a problem at all we’re family and like you said I am always just a call away no matter the time of day or night ” I said.

                 Two days later I arrived in California. Before I met up with the Oats family at the hospital I visit Eric first. I walked into a cold room where I saw Eric sitting at a table with his head down. I couldn’t stand seeing him like this but if I wanted to get him out I needed to put my feeling aside and do my job. As he gave me his side of the story I could tell he was holding back his tears. He was scared and just wanted to go home. All I could do was hold him. “Eric I promise you, that I will get you out of here, I’m working on the case none stop”. I said as I kissed him on the forehead and then leaving. I drove down to the hospital to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Oats. “Lela thank you so much for helping us I didn’t know who else to call” Brenda said hugging me. The last time I seen them was two years ago at my wedding. “I’m glad you did call me. Did you do what I asked you to do” I said. Damian handed me the camera as I looked through the pictures I grew angry as I seen the condition Jr. was in. “Mr. and Mrs. Oats I know this will be hard to hear me say”. “Please call us Damian and Brenda” Mr. Oats said. “Right, excuse me, Damian and Brenda I know this may be hard for you to hear but this case can take up from a week to a month and the whole time your son will be in a holding jail” Brenda started to cry “but I have several good news. I have arranged for him to be held in a cell alone with no interaction from other prisoners and limited guards” I said. “How could that be good” Mr. Oats asked. Like I was saying Damian not only is it a good thing for his safety but if he was to get into any altercations while being locked up it could hurt the case by not only making him look like a trouble maker but also add on to his sentence rather he is found guilty or not. So please bear with me, if you have any questions I will be more than willing to answer them afterwards. Trust me I have your son best interest at heart” I said as they nodded their heads. “In addition, luckily Eric did not kill the guy he is being hospitalized in the jail prison. Because this is Eric first offence, he’s young and he done well in school the court might take it light on him. However, I will try to get this expunged from his permit records all together. After this is over it would be a good idea to get him active in after school programs or even volunteering. Reason is because he will be set on house arrest and him having extra responsibility show that he is not at risk to hurt anyone. And last, I am going to need your 100% support and at times it may be hard therefore  I am going to need for you to place Anna with a close friend or relative” I said. “What” Brenda said not sounding happy at all about my last option. “Trust me I know you want to all stay together and I understand that but she does not need to be constantly reminded of what happened, let alone with in time not knowingly you will be showing her less and less attention because you will be so focused on the case, Jr and work which does not leave any time for her by the time the end of the day comes. The last thing we want is for her to feel like this is all her fault” I explained. By the end of the conference they agreed to place Anna with Damian sister Jadie’.