Education on "The System"

Ok, so I'm parked along side the sheriff's office slash county jail yesterday afternoon, debating whether or not to leave the kids in the car (because it's a pain to get three of them out of car seats and back into them), leave the car running (because it's 30 degrees out) and lock the door (because we have a key pad entry and I can do that). OR, take them in (because we're 25 feet from the barbed wire fence where the prisoners are playing ring around the rosies in the bird yard).

While I'm debating, Eden says, "Why are we sitting here?"

"Because, I need to run in and grab some paperwork."

pause, long wait...

"Why aren't you going in?"

"Because, my regular parking place is being taken up by an older model suburban driven by an elderly woman who is taking up three spots and I'm debating whether or not to leave you in the car over here or come back later without you"

"Oh." pause "What is this place over here?"

"This is the jail side"

"Oh." pause "It looks like a brick house with a tall fence. What's a jail?"

"It's a place where people have to go when they've been really naughty and broken the law. Sometimes, it's just for a night to sober up and then they get bonded out, or sometimes a judge sentences them to stay for a longer time because they are dangerous."

"Oh." pause. "I can make a sentence. Who lives in this brick house?"

"Nobody lives here, it's a jail. Well, some people live here for up to a year, and some of the workers feel like they live here, but they really don't. It's a county owned building."

"What's 'sober up' mean?"

"It means that somebody has had too much to drink today and it's not safe that they drive home by themselves."

"Sometimes I drink a lot too, don't I mommy. When I'm really thirsty."

pause

"what's 'bonded out' mean?"

"Eden, honestly, I'm thinking. Just sit quiet for a minute please."

"Can I go to jail too?"

"No, Eden, you can't go to jail until you're an adult. This is where Cheree works and Aunt Meegan used to work at a really big jail in Michigan. And Milo brings people to this jail, too, and he's going to be the new Sheriff, so he'll work here after Christmas."

"Wow, I know lots of people who get to go to jail! What's a judge?"

"A judge is somebody who sits on a big bench in a room and hears a case and decides whether or not the person should go to jail or go home and how much money it will cost to let him go home. It's called a court of law."

"Oh." pause "Did you know what? God has laws too. But only a couple. I think, like, 6 or 10 or something like that, but I don't know 'em all."

"Yes. I think that lady is moving her car, let's drive around front and I'll run right in."

We drive around front, and the lady backs the Suburban up, over the curb, just missing the cruiser behind it, staring at me as I drive by slowly, hoping she was going to pull away. I circle the block and end up right back where I started.

Lars joins in now, "Can I go to jail too?"
Eden, "NO, I asked first and I'm bigger than you are anyway!"

Ok, time to go.

By now, I could have taken them all out of the car seats, given them a cell tour, introducing all the inmates, got my paperwork, and had them back in their car seats.

I'll come back later.