SO, what happens when the thrill of the event outweighs the penalties?  What happens when we gently aggravate authority again and again and again?  What happens when we join-up with the "rebels" and fight those forces that defend our neighborhoods?

Maybe we better ask Chris...



 

Chris's dad died when he was eight.  For many of his childhood years, he lived with an in-ground pool in his backyard.  As he entered middle school, his crime spree began with the destruction of all the holloween pumpkins in town he could find.    

 

I remember, when he was in the ninth grade, I talked with Chris about his "bad" behavior.  I remember, he smiled, as he told me he was just making a few stories happen that he could tell his kids.
  
By high school, we talked again.  We both agreed that we could trust poor people more than the rich folks.  Chris was still pushing the limits but never intentionally hurting anyone.  He had already begun collecting his traffic tickets,  talking like a getto resident, ignoring curfew and aggravating police.  He never got into unmanageable drug use or alcohol abuse.

It was at 16, while sitting in Juvenile Detention. he committed himself to completing The Lincoln's ChalleNGe Academy program in Rantoul, Illinois.  Above, those are pictures while Chris successfully lived in Rantoul for five and a half months.



 

After The ChalleNGe, he continued to aggravate the police.  Above is one of (left)  chris' prison pictures and the (right) photo was taken after completing his first prison trip.  

When his friend refused to pay a debt, Chris took him for a ride from Auburn to springfield and Chris was then charged with "kidnapping".  On one particular year, he was one of the top three citizens in the city with unpaid traffic tickets.  

No question, he was an aggravation to police and he readily ignored laws protecting the rights of it's citizens.  And, there was no question, he was a loyal friend, saw injustice and would be there when needed.  When Aaron's mother was killed, Chris was at the funeral.  When Sheighn committed suicide, he was there at the funeral.  When Kent died from a spider bite, Chris told me  about the Brown Recluse Spiders that lived in The Southern Illinois prisons.  On one occasion, when my life was threatened, Chris called to warn me.  





He chose to live within community values that sometimes offended and hurt citizens.  He was not driven to that life.  He has no chemical imbalance.  He was not emotionally unstable.  He chose to join those folks and that life style where he found comfort.     
 

So, what shall we do with Chris?  At the end of November, 2008, he was sitting in jail facing his fourth prison term.  He was throwing away his life, he was breaking his mother's heart and he was costing us a fortune.

Lets see... he did good on probation.  He completed The Lincoln's ChalleNGe Academy.  He had wanted to join the Air Force when he was 16 but he was too young.  He has lots of friends...many police, prison guards and neighbors like him.  So, we know he does well within a structured environment.  We know he does well when people need him.  We know, when required, he will comply.  And, I can tell you, as of November 2008, he was not a happy camper and dreamed of a "new road".

Now it's 2010 and I think we'll just end this story here.  We'll leave the choices for his future in the hands of those he offended.  Right now, as of January 2010, things don't look good.  He's serving his fourth term in prison and the emotional weight of his experiences is beginning to show.  I fear our system has won, Chris is defeated.  But, I'll never quit believing and supporting this young man who offends our sense of justice.
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Take me home...