April 26, 2010

Wierd Sunday

*Disclaimer: This post is a long one!*

Yesterday was a weird Sunday, one I would just assume forget. It didn't help that from the moment I got up, I felt a little "off." I can't quite explain it, but I just couldn't get my head on straight.

Church was fine, other than the anxiety I had had over making sure I spoke to one of the ladies I needed some help from. It was after church that things got weird...

When I walked in the door, I noticed the neighbor kids playing on my back porch. It was Brady's friend Cala and three of her cousins. I figured Brett had told them they could play on our porch when he came home to change Eli's diaper. The thing that bugged me was that it was pretty apparent they had thrown sand ALL OVER the porch. They had filled Brady's rainboots that were sitting by the door; sand had been thrown against the ceiling, the windows, and the walls. The worst part of it was that Cala - sweet Cala whom I had thought was the sweetest thing ever - had lied straight to my face and told me it was a neighbor boy whom had never ever set foot on our property before. I knew she had to be lying because Brett had been here long enough to tell that no one had come and gone but those four kids. The boy didn't even live close by, from what I could tell from her story. Cala had concocted this elaborate lie just to cover her and her cousins. That hurt. That didn't put me in a very good spirit after that. I really wanted the kids to leave, but I knew Brady would be heartbroken that he wouldn't get to play with his "best friends."

So, after that, I cleaned up the toys that I didn't want these kids playing with and stuck around outside for a bit, just monitoring them. Cala's dad came over and introduced himself. He's a big guy who goes by the nickname of "Tank," no less. It was good to finally meet him and he seemed nice enough.

After he and I talked, Eli started getting whiny and I knew he needed some lunch. I took him in and fed him while Brady continued to play with the kids. As I sat in the dining room (which looks out onto the porch), I noticed that all of the kids were huddled together, while Brady had walked over to Cala's property (our backyards connect without a fence in between). Cala's grandmother was sitting outside, so I thought Brady was just going over to say "Hi!"

After Eli finished his food, he wanted to go back outside. I followed him out there and as I did, Brady came up to me and said, "You're a b****!" I was shocked. Where had my sweet, innocent 4-year-old heard such a horrible phrase? My husband and I don't swear, neither to we watch things in front of Brady that would ever have that kind of language. I immediately reprimanded him and asked where he heard that word. Never in his life has he heard that word uttered, and here he was saying it to his mom. I knew the neighbor kids had to have taught him that. I thought it was interesting that as soon as the other kids (who were sitting five feet away from me) heard my reaction, Cala jumped up and said "I've gotta go to the bathroom" and ran back to her place.

But it gets worse.

A few seconds later, Cala's grandmother called over for the other kids to come back home and I noticed them all sitting against the house on a bench. It looked like they were getting a "talkin' to." A few minutes later, one of the boys came over and said "We can't play over here anymore because Brady called my grandma a b****." I was absolutely mortified. I was in shock. I didn't know what to say or do. I knew the kids had put Brady up to it. It explained their giggling I had heard earlier when they were in the little huddle on the porch. I called Brady over to me and told him he needed to apologize. I asked Cala what was going on and she "innocently" shrugged, "I dunno."

I was shaking with anger and embarrassment. I sent Brady over to apologize to Cala's grandmother. I realize now I probably should have gone with him, but they had to know that Brady didn't know what he was doing. He didn't know what he said was wrong. After Brady went over there, Tank called over that everything was fine and not to worry. I'm hoping that meant that they knew it was his kids' fault and that they were getting in trouble for it.

That's only the half of it, though... Weirder things are yet to come...

The kids stayed away the rest of the day. I think they all went to the beach for the afternoon. I was glad that I didn't have to deal with Brady wanting to play with those kids and me having to say no. I told him that he could no longer play with them if they came over. He could play with Cala if she was by herself, but even then I'm a little leery about that.

It wasn't until it got dark and the boys were in bed that the second round of weirdness occurred. Brett and I were about to start watching the Jazz game when we heard a knock at our back door. I new it had to be someone from Cala's house. I thought it might be her or her dad coming to apologize for what had happened earlier. Oh how I wish it was...

It was Tank. He has a pretty bad stutter so it took a minute before I could figure out what he wanted. He was trying to explain that he needed to get to a friend's house and that he needed money for a cab or a ride. We offered to help him out and I really wish we hadn't. After Brett gave him a ride and the little cash we had on us, we realized that he was drunk. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about how we helped him. He promised that he would pay us back after he got paid today, but for some reason, I have a really hard time trusting that. I wanted to do the Christian thing and help out a neighbor, but his actions seemed sketchy and I really don't want him to think he can come to us again. I fear that we've set a bad precedent.

I was bothered the rest of the night and just wanted this day to be over with.

I'll be so glad when we can get out of this place.

3 Happy Thoughts:

Kristie said...

Oh Amber I'm So sorry. That is no fun at all it's so hard to deal with things like that especially when they live SO close. I don't know what I would have done either especially since Tank is so big that would scare me. And it would be hard to deal with something where it's someone else's kids that are in the wrong and you know it. At least you will be able to get out of there soon and not have to worry about it anymore.

That is so sad that Cala acted the way she did and is teaching him such bad things. I hope Tank leaves you guys alone too. I hope he won't bother you when your home alone too. It makes you want to close the blinds and never go out again because you don't want your kids to see the other kids playing and want to go out there. So sad.

It's sad too that Cala's dad is like that and that she has to deal with a Dad that gets drunk and who knows what else. I hope that something like this won't happen again. I wish I could come over and help you in some way. Hope things get better. XOXO so sorry again.

joeandbridge said...

Hi there! Just poppin' in from Friday Follow (still looking for blogs to follow and now I follow you-Hooray!) Bummer story - Hope you had a great weekend otherwise and you have a great week! Come visit me :)

Bridgette Groschen
The Groschen Goblins
www.groschengoblins.com

Tristen said...

That is a strange day! Sorry you had to deal with all of that...no fun! Hope things get better. :)