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“That’s not true. I don’t want you goin‘ to a real prison and…”

“And what?”

“I haven’t been a good mother, and I probably won’t ever be,” she admitted. “It’s true what he said. I’m not capable of doin‘ what has to be done. I need help. Look at this,” she said, unfolding a paper. “I was asked to check off what applies to you.”

Does your teen struggle with basic family rules?

Has your teen ever been expelled? Been truant? Failed subjects?

Is your teen verbally abusive?

Does your teen associate with bad peers? Have problems with the law? Lack motivation?

Lack self-worth? Have problems with authority?

Has your teen been sexually promiscuous? Been manipulative and/or deceitful? Stolen money or other valuables from your home?

No matter what rules and consequences are established, does your teen defy them?

When dealing with your teen, do you often feel powerless?

I put the paper down.

“You see, I had to check everythin‘, Robin.”

“Big deal,” I said.

“Yes, it is a big deal. I’m signin‘ the paper.”

“I don’t care,” I said. “Sign it.”

“You’ll thank me someday.”

“I can’t wait,” I said.

She rose and walked slowly to the door.

“They’re goin‘ to take you directly from here, Robin. We won’t have a chance to say good-bye.”

“We said good-bye a long time ago, Mother darling,” I told her. I said it firmly, but my eyes were clouded with tears.

She nodded.

“I’m sorry, honey. I’m sorry I hurt you. No matter what you think, I’ll never stop lovin‘ you. I hope you come back.”

“To what?”

“To me,” she said, and opened the door. She hesitated, and then she closed it.

It wasn’t a loud noise, but to me it was like a gunshot.

A few minutes later, a policewoman came in.

“You’d better go to the bathroom,” she said. “You’ve got a long trip ahead of you.”

I did what she suggested. When I came out, she was waiting for me.

She took me down a hallway to a door where a police vehicle was parked. A patrolman opened the rear door and I got in. It occurred to me that I had nothing but the clothes on my back. I was going to say something about it, but no one seemed interested in anything I had to say, so I kept my mouth shut.