True Story

I'm a little late posting this story.. but anyway..

Last Wednesday, about 8:30 p.m., I was talking on the phone to my friend Lucy. I get a BEEP, but I continue to talk. A few minutes later, I get another beep. I look at the number and it say's "Perry Co Office" which is what usually shows up when I talk to Lucy at work. Curious, I click over.

This is what follows:

Me: Hello?

My uncle Dale: Brandi, I need a favor.

Me: Okay.. what?

Uncle D: I need for you to call Lucy and have her get me out of here. I can't stay the night here, if I do, I'll lose my job. and I can't lose my job, so you need to call her and see if she'll let me out on my own reconnaissance, because I can't post the $1500 bail.

Me: Uh.. You're in JAIL?! What for??!!

Uncle D: Oh they got me for DUI, but I'm fine, she can let me out. I can't lose my job, I have to get out.

(side bar: He's rambling and slurring his speech the whole time we're talking)

Me: Lucy doesn't do favors like that, she won't be able to do anything.

Uncle D: Just ask her. Just ask her. I'm fine.. she can let me out.

Me: Okay. well.. is there anyone else you want me to call? (at this point, I don't know if he's used his one phone call on me or what)

Uncle D: Yeah, Lucy.

So I click back over to Lucy and she could tell I had just had a weird conversation. So I told her. And we laughed. She said she couldn't do anything even if she could (and I wouldn't have seriously asked her to) because he was still drunk and you have to sober up before they let you out.

So then I didn't know what to do. Do I call my parents. Do I call my grandparents. What do I do?! So I called my parents--no answer. So I went to where I knew they were eating at w/friends and pulled Mom to the side and told her. She doubts my grandma knows, so we leave to tell her. Grandma was aware of it. and not happy. but her hands were tied. She wasn't going to bail him out.

The short of it, his girlfriend was able to scrape bail money together and he got out the next day. He's got a FELONY dui because of the timespan for which he got his last DUI. He just finished community service and got his license back in about August or whenever. I don't know what he'll face in court. With a felony like that, he might see some time. who knows!

Huge sidebar:
He's so frustrating. I hate what he does to my grandparents. He's the baby of my Mom's siblings and he's always had his parents to bail him out of trouble.. figuratively and literally. He hasn't had to learn his lesson and become (hold on to your seat) responsible. He's 51! He's never held down a job. He's had trouble with the law.. mainly DUI stuff, but I remember when I was little he was wanted for child support and was on the run for awhile. He's been married once, for like 9 mos. and moves back in w/his parents when he splits with his girlfriends. or has a fight with them, which is about once every other month. Crazy! And all the while he's mooching off grandma and grandpa.. who aren't in the best of health and have bigger things to worry about than a 51 year old 18 year old. you know?! You'd think living with your parents bill free you'd be able to save lots-o-money... have a car.. buy your own place.. etc. No he's broke. Hasn't ever had anything, and when he did, he sells it. It'll be interesting to see what happens when one day grandma and grandpa aren't around.

He hasn't talked to me since he got out. My parents are mad because he called and bugged me about it and wanted me to use my friendship with Lucy to get him out. you know.. He called my grandma from jail that night and as soon as she answered he says "what's Brandi's phone number".. and she's like "why do you want that", and he responds annoyed "Just give me Brandi's phone number". Nice. What a way to talk to your mother.. the same mother that's bailed you out your entire life.

Ah!