My Christmas Present

I got a really wonderful Christmas present this year. For all that is not going in my life, I am the happiest man in this city today. The courts have given me legal custody of my nieces and nephew. Ben got himself arrested. I'd always thought he'd get busted for pushing drugs or burglary or worse. He was lucky I guess. He assaulted a police officer. It could have been worse.

Anyway, he'd been on the wrong side of the law so many times, family services started noticing that I'm the one who keeps showing up for the kids. So they investigated. And when Ben got arrested this time, it was the last straw for him. It makes no difference to me, I've been taking care of the kids for five years. I'm just really thankful that I now have full legal custody over them, being the only living relative they have, and having proven that I have been providing for them almost all their lives. Ben's wife, Gena, died when the youngest was born. I hate to think what Ben would've done with them and to them if I weren't there to turn his attention to me. There's three of them. Jeannie is 10, Sara is 7, and Peter is 5. They're great kids. I wish I had a camera so I can put their photo up here. They're my life.

Back to Ben and his arrest. I got the call to go down to the precinct. Actually two officers came to my home and brought me to see him. My place is a ways out of the city, and I don't have a phone. Ben had asked for me. He told them I would post bail. I couldn't. I work two jobs just to keep this place and the kids going. Ben's always thought I have cash hidden under the floorboards. I wish I did. Ben made a lunge for me when I told him I didn't have the five thousand dollars for his bail. At 6 foot 3, and 220 pounds of mostly muscle, my brother Ben angry is a frightening sight. Me, I'm 5"7, and not more than 164lbs dripping wet. I just stood rooted there to the floor as he came at me. I don't know what would've happened if two equally big uniformed officers weren't there to drag him back. He didn't really get me, but I got a few scratches on the neck. There was a plainclothes officer there who watched the whole thing. He kept looking at me at first. It made me a little uncomfortable. But then he came over after and offered me a ride back home.

Not too long after that, I got a visit from family services, and then had a few more interviews with them, mostly with the kids present. And before I knew it, that was it. The kids are mine. Ben is in jail. He'll be out before too long. But he can't take the kids away from me legally anymore. That was always my biggest fear, that he would just up and leave with the kids.

I'm really happy about this. So I took the day off and brought the kids to the library, which is why I have time to post today. For all the other things that are not right and not great, I am still a happy man today. Merry Christmas one and all!