John enters his apartment to find his aunt on the phone with the police.
“Are you sure officer? She blew point one two on the breathalyzer?” John hears.
“Yes mam. Your sister is clearly intoxicated. She is barely conscious to begin with. Fortunately no one got hurt. But right now she is being charged with driving under the influence as well as driving with a suspended license..” John hears on the other end.
“Are those the only charges? “ His aunt asks clearly exasperated.
“For now“, Responds the officer. “We are investigating as too the ownership of the vehicle she was driving.” The officer continues. “You sister could be facing auto theft as well.”
“Well at least she’ll be someplace to sober up for a change. Perhaps this will be her rock bottom and will be ready for help.” John’s Aunt continues. “If not I hope the judge throws the book at her for a change.”
John’s aunt hangs up and notices her nephew at the door.
“Your mother has finally done it.” Sitting down on the sofa, she continues. “After a night of drinking another keg dry, Cathy decided to take a spin around town. Only she smashed up the vehicle she took moments later.” The aunt pauses. “The police found her passed out at the wheel.”
John is stunned. What drove mother to this?
John’s aunt gets up. “At least you have a decent head on your shoulders.”
“Aunt Beth” John gets out before being cut off.
“I know you have a work shift after school tomorrow. So get to bed. I’ll be at the police station to see your mother and find out if she is going to get a bail hearing or not.” Aunt Beth leaves before pausing. “It’s a shame your father isn’t here. Prick or not, he would of made sure your mother didn’t get to the state she is now.”
John is in a state of shock. He can’t believe what he just heard from his aunt. Mother is in jail. And this time she might not becoming out for a while.
“Will she be sent to prison?” He wonders as he finally moves about to get ready for bed. He removes the cushions on the sofa and pulls put the hide-a-bed and just lies their wondering how tomorrow is going to play out.
******
Moon lake police station. The officer that was on the phone with Beth Shaffer shakes his head. The were-dog feels sorry for the Shaffer’s. More so with the young teenager John. He looks at Cathy currently passed out in a jail cell. Even without a were’s keen sense of smell, he can smell the women reeking of alcohol. “How can a person let themselves go like that?” He wondered. “Plus the fact the drunk happens to be a were herself.”
“Are you talking to yourself again Fred?”
The officer turns around. “hmm? Oh. Sorry. Just thinking out loud.” Officer Fred responds.
“You have your report all typed up for the sheriff?” The nameless officer comments.
“Just finishing it up.” Fred states. “Sheriff isn’t going to like seeing Cathy in here again.”
“It just means he is going to have to brew an extra pot of coffee.” Comments the other officer.
“Don’t forget a double dose of aspirin.” Fred chuckles.
Both officers go back to their duties in relative silence. The silence only be broken intermittently be the sound of the police radio crackling in and out.