Bad Apples

Just found out from my mom that my younger brother has been arrested again. His unlawful antics have created quite a burden on our family. Its been especially rough on my parents and its hard to watch them have to go through all of this.

I just wish he would man up.

Pray for you

This about sums up how I've been feeling for the past week now, and thanks to the radio on my drive to work today I have a song to describe my emotions. Thank you Jaron and The Long Road To Love.

So the one time I'm not at the house when my brother visits on his work release furlough something of mine turns up missing. A pair of $80 Skullcandy headphones given to me by Sam as a Christmas gift last year. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt but honestly his name was the first I thought of when searching for them last Thursday night, nevertheless I didn't say it allowed. I still hadn't gotten a good search of the house or at Sam's house. And here we are. After going through the house multiple times including this afternoon and confirming that it isn't at Sam's, my brother is the only conclusion I can draw. I sent him a message over Facebook, not accusing him but simply asking if he had seen the headphones on his Wednesday visit. He said he didn't but said he would have thought of him first too given his past history. Not entirely convinced, I sent another message saying the headphones were important as they had been a gift from Sam. No reply on that one yet.

My mom texted me last night asking if I thought he had taken them. Yes, I think he did. I can't prove but I think he did. She wants to give me money to go and buy another pair. Not exactly the solution I want.

I told Sam about it and the other day he sounded ready to arrest my brother. My brother doesn't know that Sam is an officer and I'm pretty close to playing that card. Ugh. Today though Sam did suggest that I could make a report with our sheriff's office and list him as a suspect. It's something I'm considering at this point.

I didn't talk to him today when he was over since it is his birthday but I would like to confront him face to face or on the phone and ask him about the headphones again. And it isn't necessarily about the headphones, though I do want them back because they were a gift but it's more about him. He says constantly that he's doing better and he's changed, something I personally don't believe. He's trying to pull the wool over every one's eyes, which he's never been good at , especially with me. I just wish he'd grow up and stop doing this stupid shit that got him in trouble in the first place. He has a good thing going and I don't want him to mess up over headphones.

Home visit

My brother is visiting again before my parents leave for Texas. He seems okay I guess, not really as changed as he puts on. He talks to us a bit but spends most his time on the computer on Facebook talking with people or playing some computer game. My parents buy him sugary drinks. Just the kinds of things that'll enable an addict. I don't know why they don't just offer him water or something without loads of sugar. He drinks coffee too which isn't the best because of the caffeine, but oh well. I just wish his visits were more productive of sorts.

...My mom just let it slip that Sam is a cop in front of him. I kind of wanted to keep it under wraps for a while. I worry for his safety just like he worries about mine, not that I don't think my brother would do anything stupid.

Cop boyfriend and Criminal brother

My brother was finally transferred into a local work release in the same town where Sam works. I told that to Sam as he was cooking dinner the other night. He just looked at me wide-eyed from the kitchen and I could see his cop brain begin to click into gear. At first he didn't say anything but asked "if I see him doing something illegal should I arrest him?" It was like he was asking permission. I told him it was up to his discretion, if it's illegal and he sees it then he must do his job regardless if it happens to be my brother. He replied that it would be awkward. I said that while my brother may know I have a boyfriend he doesn't know who Sam is. Regardless, Sam still says it will be awkward because he knows he's my brother. So we'll see...

Now my brother isn't a hardened criminal, he's just had minor offenses, But he's a repeat offender. This is his second time in jail but he seems like he's trying to get his life turned around, especially after his young child passed away earlier this year.

I'm sure Sam wasn't saying it as if my brother was going to get in trouble nor will he actively keep an eye on him.
I think I may finally write to my brother. I've been thinking about doing it for some time now but haven't had the motivation to do it. I really do want him to succeed. As much conflict as there is between us, I've never wanted him to fail, I just hope that he will straighten out in the end. The road will be tough for all of us I'm sure.