We were sitting in McDonald's, in Eureka Springs, AR, this morning, it wasn't crowded, and three young people (under age 20 most likely) were sitting a few tables away. They weren't loud, but since the restaurant was so quiet, their conversation was readily audible to us. These were good looking kids, dressed decently, not raggedy, not trying to portray a statement such as punk, or Goth, or gang-banger. Just kids.
One young boy, in particular, made some comments that just shook us to the core. He mentioned to his friends that he had three felony arrests already, as if it were a common occurence, and "stuff happens." I don't know if it was the same young man, or his friend, who said he dropped out of school at age 13!
As we left, we pondered where they got the money to buy anything at McDonald's. Do they steal? Pan-handle? Sell drugs? Get money from absentee parents?
A sad thing to see and observe, but what can be done? I sure don't have any answers for these kids except the obvious...go back to school, get a job, start to fly right. But they're strangers to me. Where are their authority figures? Does anyone even care about them?
One young boy, in particular, made some comments that just shook us to the core. He mentioned to his friends that he had three felony arrests already, as if it were a common occurence, and "stuff happens." I don't know if it was the same young man, or his friend, who said he dropped out of school at age 13!
As we left, we pondered where they got the money to buy anything at McDonald's. Do they steal? Pan-handle? Sell drugs? Get money from absentee parents?
A sad thing to see and observe, but what can be done? I sure don't have any answers for these kids except the obvious...go back to school, get a job, start to fly right. But they're strangers to me. Where are their authority figures? Does anyone even care about them?
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