LIFE LESSONS

BREAKING THE LAW

Don't.

Laws exist not to irk you personally. They are not created to annoy you, raise your indignation levels or... to be broken by you- just because.

There are legal rules to follow and there are moral laws. Both need respect- and both need to stay unbroken by you. I am not advocating living the life of a perfect saint. We've all broken a law- at least once. But most of us do it without realising or through a lapse of attention. Few of us set out deliberately and with the full intent of committing a crime- in jest, no less.

The other night (close to midnight) Dyls got a text from Boyd: "Can your mum pick us up, we had to hop off a stop early as ticket inspectors were on the train."

I am who I am. We jumped in the car and drove along the rail tracks looking for them. It was a cold night and Molly was... underdressed as usual? I heard police sirens on the other side of the tracks- I won't lie, the thought entered my mind that I may, in fact, have been aiding 'fugitives' from one minor crime or another.

"They shouldn't fare-evade mum. And they shouldn't sneak into movies."

"I know."

"Risking hundreds of dollars in fines- when all they need is to top up a Myki card with a few bucks? And then calling you like twelve-year-olds- to come get them?"

"Fines aren't real to them babe."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, they get a piece of paper- but they don't equate it with a debt owed. Or money, for that matter. They see only 'injustice' and bad luck... them getting caught!"

I thought about what I said- my comment left unexplored since we'd spotted them and I'd picked them up, Molly shivering.

I know I am using Molly and Boyd often as examples of late. This, because our home is suddenly... out of sync. We never lived with rules. Now, we had to impose them on guests?

Last Friday was a public holiday. Dylan and I were sitting on the 'new' lounge suite at the back, (purchased feeling rather chuffed at the fact we'd got it from someone who'd featured in some show called "Picking Wars" or something- as the bloke who'd delivered it had explained.) We were clocking Spyro 1- this because he'd discovered some hidden levels online.

Molly emerged in a crop top, midriff bare, and thin black tights with... white/black spotted knickers clearly visible. She may as well have emerged just in her knickers. She was also stoned. At 9.00am. My father was making his breakfast. His face- he came to my room later and said: "If they're not out of here in two days, I am calling the police. This is a home, not a half-way house."

It would have been hilarious- the idea of dad picking up the phone and dialling 000 to complain about the lack of female decency. But I stood with him, understanding his distaste. Not so funny.

Her total disregard for the fact there were adults (as in elderly, conservative adults in the house - never mind this adult) and her wave of the hand disrespect... I was mighty miffed.

A friend of theirs came and... off they went, to the nearest mall. The money owed to me forgotten. The agreed-to 'plan' to put money aside in a special account and keep the rest as cash so they can see what money is left... forgotten. The chat about 'giving back' in other ways- since they were paying no rent... ignored. Every conversation ignored. Every bit of advice disregarded.

"How much of your pay do you have left, Boyd?" This, when they returned and they came in asking to "borrow some weed". (I'd purchased $100 worth the day before which would normally see me through a few weeks, at least, given I smoke one or at most two joints of a night-time.)