Robin and I were at the local elementary school earlier tonight, just sitting and chatting on the swings. Three older teens walked by and I recognized one of them as the nephew of a friend of ours that our friend raised (along with his brother and sister) since he was very small. Anyway, he didn't recognize me (or seem to). They walked by us and about a minute later threw a fire work on the basketball courts. No big deal. Then they walked along the dirt trail in the grassy field by the school and on their way. About 10 minutes later they were out of sight and Robin and I saw smoke coming from the grass by the trail. So we ran out there and he and I both threw dirt on a small fire and I stomped the rest of it out (about burnt my toes since I was wearing sandels!). We stayed for about 10-15 minutes to make sure it was out. While waiting, I called our friend (this kid's uncle) and asked him what he'd like me to do. He said since the kid doesn't live with him anymore (moved out several months ago and has been bumming off friends since) he doesn't have any control or say, really. He said if I thought the cops or fire department should be called, do it. Maybe another visit from a police officer would do him some good (he's been in quite a bit of trouble in the past 5 years). I said, well knowing the kid like I do I'm pretty sure I knew where he went. He likes to hang out at the local Sonic. So we decided that I'd go try to talk to him and if I couldn't find him or if he denied it or got nasty I'd called the cops. I headed up to Sonic and told Robin to stay in the car and not say a word. I pull in and there's the kid and his friends, and perfect of perfects--three tables away are about 6 fire fighters with their trucks parked in the parking lot!!! I walked up behind him, put my hand on his back and sat down next to him as I said his name. He said, "Yes???" I asked him if he remembered me and he said no. I told him who I was and then he said, "Oh, yeah! How are you?" (it's probably been at least a year since he's seen me) I said fine and then asked him what he and his friends threw in the field. He said a firework, why? I told him it started a fire. He looked shocked, scared, and just kind of freaked out. He started asking if it was out, how big, what-what-what??? I told him to calm down, I'd put it out and about how big it was. He then turned to his friends and asked them if they heard what I said (they didn't, I didn't want to be too loud and have the firefighters overhear unless I wanted them to). I told him he needed to make this right. I said I knew that he'd made some bad decisions lately and this could have been a doozy. He said "I knew we should have check that to make sure it didn't start a fire." So anyway, I told him he needed to go back up there to make absolutely certain it was out (I'd already done that) and he said he would, and he'd even get some buckets of water to take. He said he's trying to get his life turned around and straightened out. I want to believe him, but I know it can be hard. Especially for someone like him. Both his parents are in jail, he's been in jail, his brother's been in jail and his sister's on her way if she doesn't straighten up (she's only 16). I told him I hope he does get his life straightened out and good luck and left. I did drive by the school again to make sure it hadn't started again (it hadn't). He also knows if it starts back up, someone knows who started it and he will be turned in. I also called his uncle back to let him know how it went. This kid was nothing but polite to me, and I want to believe he really is changing his life, but at the same time he could have been snowballing me. Who knows.

There are a couple good things about this whole thing. First of all, there were a couple of younger kids (about 10) that also noticed the fire. If I hadn't been there who knows what they would have done. One did call his dad, but I'd already put it out by then. They may have tried and gotten hurt or it could have gotten out of control (it was pretty windy and VERY dry). Also, Robin and I had gone to the school because he and dh were argueing horribly and I had to get one of them out of the house. I chose to take Robin up there to calm him down. What were we sitting on the swings talking about??? Responsibility and poor choices. This was an awesome life lesson for him. He got to see first hand the effect a bad choice could have (and I explained what could have happened). I'd really have to say we were in the right place at the right time. (although I do smell like smoke now and I've already taken two showers today and don't want to take another!)

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 11:19 pm:

Wow, Cat. That was brave - yes, putting out the fire was brave, but what I mean is tracking down and confronting the young man and his friends. That was really brave.

I'm sure Robin got the message very thoroughly, and he saw his mom do a brave thing in putting out the fire and in trying to help a young man think about getting his life on track. I won't hold my breath that it makes a big difference to the other young man, but I'm sure it makes a big difference to Robin.

By Nicki on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 11:58 pm:

Cat, it sounds like you were in the right place at the right time! Glad it all worked out okay. I think it was brave of you, too. I hope this young guy is able to turn his life around. From your description of his reaction, he did sound concerned, but as you say, hard to know if he was being sincere. I'm glad no one got hurt.

This reminds me of a fire that occurred near us a few weeks ago. It was a field fire that was brought under control before it reached any homes. The paper said it was started by two young boys who were launching a rocket. It was legal, but conditions are just too dry here. The paper said, to the boys credit, the older one called 911 immediately to report they had started a fire. The fire department was there very quickly and due to the boy's honesty and the quick response, a home nearby was saved. The younger boy did as you did, he tried to extinguish the fire with his foot, but suffered some burns. I thought it was brave of these two guys to own up to their mistake.

Cat, were fireworks illegal in your area this year? They were here. The only ones that were legal were those carried out at the public park by the pyrotechnicians.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 01:26 am:

Okay, fireworks are technically illegal, but you'd never know it sometimes. There are still some being set off. There is no point in calling the cops, because I have no idea where it was. I just heard it. (and it scared Jasmine.)

By Annie2 on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 08:02 am:

Great job, Cat!

Certain fireworks are illegal here, too, but many people go across the AL line to buy the bigger ones. My 120lb German Shepard is scared to death of loud bangs and thunder. He's pretty much been in the house since July 4th! LOL

By Cat on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 09:09 am:

Thanx, everyone for saying I was brave. I'm not sure how brave it really was, and actually it probably tetered heavily on the stupid side. Part of me looks back and says *you should have just called 911*, but it really wasn't *that* bad, ya know? And Robin's lesson was "Don't you EVER do this!" as I was stomping it out. I had him put sand on it and we talked about why that works (he said, "doesn't sand turn to glass when you heat it?" lol). Oh well. Hindsight...

In Colorado anything that leaves the ground (bottle rockets, etc) or explodes (fire crackers, etc) is illegal. Everything else is readily available. However, I did hear something about it being extremely dry this year and they may have made everything illegal, but the stands were still selling! We're outside Colorado Springs city limits, but inside the city limits everything is illegal. People quite frequently go to New Mexico or Wyoming to get things. Friends of our neighbor's did and they almost set our front lawn on fire Wednesday night. If we hadn't watered it, it probably would have been dry enough to burn.

I hope this kid was sincere. Maybe next time I see him I'll talk to him. He's only 18 or 19. He's got SO much ahead of him. I guess time will tell.

By Karen~admin on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 09:33 am:

Cat, ditto everyone else. I just want to say, you're setting a fine example for your own kids. You did the right thing.

However - and I don't want to burst the bubble - but, as you probably know, this child is *possibly* headed for some serious trouble. He has no role models, he is following in his family's footsteps. In other words, he doesn't know (or feel *comfortable*) in anything else. And the reason I'm saying that is, kids can be very deceiving. I HOPE this is not the case. But being a *late teen*, the pattern is obvious, and something needs to happen to make a lasting impression on him, to make him WANT to change. I hope this will help.

^5 to you!

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 12:11 pm:

In Wisconsin, you can buy fireworks almost anywhere, but it is illegal to set them off. Does that make sense? I don't think so.

Cat, you did a brave thing and I hope it made an impression on the boy. I hope he wasn't just "Eddie Haskeling" you and putting on a good front, in front of the grownup.

By Cat on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 09:32 pm:

Dawn, even if just Robin learned something, I'm okay with that. I have no control over this other boy. Oh, and I'll bet you we have some younger members that don't know who Eddie Haskel is! rofl

Karen, I know this boy is probably headed for trouble. I know once they start this road it's hard to turn back. Although our friend (his uncle) and his wife have raised him since he was about 3, his parents have had influence on his life--and not good. They would see him when they were out of jail and such. It's been pretty hard. My friend and his wife took these three children in when they were toddlers, loved them and raised them as their own, and all three of them are still messed up. My friends now have their 14yo half sister because both her parents are now in jail, and she's already on the same path. The 14yo will be headed to Germany as soon as she gets her passport (our friend's wife is already there with their 16yo dd they adopted from South America). I hope the change of environment and just getting away from the rest of their family will be good for her. Sometimes is SO hard to get away from the influences in life.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, July 8, 2007 - 11:26 pm:

For those who don't know, it was from a TV show in the 50's and 60's called Leave It To Beaver. Eddie Haskell was Wally's friend and he would be awful to Wally's brother Beaver, and then turn around and be sweet as gold to the mother of the show! He knew how to suck it up, for the grownups!

Eddie Haskell on Wiki

I already did a pretty good job of summing it up, though!

Famous Eddies
Scroll down for a pic of Kenneth Osmond, who played Eddie Haskell.