I’m back dealing with the lesser defendant Wesley again. I’m so glad I have a way to contact him thru the week instead of trying to reach him thru his parole officer and hardly ever getting thru.
Now we connect thru FB ‘messenger’, or whatever it’s called. We do a ‘chat’ thing, which I don’t normally like. But I have to do it, if I want to keep in touch. I have a hard time knowing what to say in an extemporaneous way with people, so chat stuff is awkward.
The latest is he’s homeless again, oh, that’s hard to take. His girlfriend/fiance broke up with him but he’s still working at Burgerville, I gather, so at least he has some income or stability. I asked why he couldn’t stay with family and he told me they ‘don’t want him around’. Yikes!
I hate hearing that. You know, your son is killed, the defendant sobs how sorry he is about his small role over the phone, you meet with him and have the most peaceful, normal conversation …. and he asks for a hug when you part! Gee, what kind of life am I living?! Very hard to wrap my head and heart around! But I feel the comfort of God, so I don’t let it worry me.
His role was small, but …. he’s in the same boat with me, we both have to wake up each morning with the horrid memory of the incident in our minds, hearts. The shame over his head of being associated with the crime must be heavy weight for a 20 yr old, who never meant to hurt anyone!
I’ve thought and read a lot of stuff about homelessness, dysfunctional families since Marc was so affected by homeless youths. There are statistics from national organizations that give the general facts, but the kids who’re ‘at risk’ in this group don’t get the attention they should. So many teens don’t want to leave home, but are forced out. Homelessness isn’t a popular problem or sin.
Most defendants probably wouldn’t care to deal with me, they’d want to kiss off any communication. I’m very lucky the 2 boys in my sons case have a normal conscience! Wesley isn’t a mean, sick guy who lies, swears, has poor manners. He’s ‘struggling’ but showing a lot of honesty, resilience and trust. In a crazy way this case may be ending up ‘saving’ Wesley?
Please keep this situation in your thoughts and prayers, along with the other defendant Andrew, who’s in prison. I’ve wanted Marc’s legacy to be a strong one, not only of forgiveness but of God’s love and mercy thru every thing we have to deal with in life.