Red Neck Soap Opera

HI All, Red here.. I know it’s been a while, but sometimes, life just gets in the way of typin’ ‘n all.So the Brother has a new girl. He’s popular like that! This one is a bar tender, which would be a bonus if Bro still drank. She also waits tables in her non-tending times. I’m not so sure she’s good at either since she’s needed $$ help with her car payments and all. He had to put her phone on his account and get her a new one ‘cause of course she killed hers... Doesn’t clear more than about $200 per month where she works local.

So, here’s the fun part: Girlfriend said she needed to go to Florida to wait bar on the beach during the “season”, she does this every year, and she’d be back in a few months. Being the understanding, laid back guy he is, Brother says “Ok Sweetie, I’ll miss you”... Mom - remember Brother’s living with Mom to take care of her - says “see ya!” thinking “hope you find a permanent job down there”... yup that’s family

Girlfriend can’t make money while in Florida... not as much tourism this year... poor girl. Brother goes down to visit her.. finds a nice deal on a small sailboat, they go sailing... he gets bit by a water snake... poor guy

He leaves her there after his visit-cation and heads home. She’s going to tow it back with her little SUV (older model) thing she drives.

Mom’s not looking forward to the return of the GF, Brother kinda likes her, so hmmm.... IDEA! Buy an Camper Trailer (nice used one of course) and place that in the back yard - one GF Palace! Especially since she can’t afford an apartment on her pay, and all... He goes and gets a nice, gently used RV Trailer.

She posts on FB pictures of her beautiful new car - $500/month payment... btw it doesn’t have a tow hitch - oops.

Oh, and she’s going to need help paying for it... And I’m not living in that RV thingy, that’s going to be placed at “MY” (her) family’s house so when I visit them, I’ll have a place to stay... And when you come down to get the boat, bring my teen-aged kids with you so you can rent a house on the beach for all of us and we can have a “real” vacation... Did I mention Brother’s not rollin’ in $$? No? hmm... well at this point he’s going to develop a ‘crick’ in his neck from looking for dropped pennies...

Oh and I think I heard a rumor she wants to have children... with a surrogate - cause that’s cheaper than the traditional way... really... this girl’s all sorts ‘a frugal!

I'm not sure if I should ask who needs this much help navigating their feet (takes an driver), what size is that (seriously they are special delivery), or what kinda athletes foot... yeah never mind

Yo Brother, What do you mix with this?

Light and refreshing... with a slightly strange after taste... yes, I had to try it... seriously bored that day...

Dude, did you want fries with that?

Ok all, sorry about the delay in postings... that thing called life got in the way. Turns out the brother is single again. That oughtta reduce the antacid bill in his house.

Keep an eye out, you might see a post or two from others in the famdamily...

Who knows, you might even get a laugh! (Or at least a momentary glimpse into a red neck soap opera.)

You know that "guy" on tv? The one who has all the women and no one con figure out how he gets them? And everyone thinks it's just a stereotype for TV. NOPE- I've met "that guy".

The guy next door isn't handsome, he's in the smallest apartment I've seen, doesn't have a car and doesn't have a car. He does have internet access.

About a year ago his girlfriend (#1) (at the time) gave him a ride to check out the apartment. It was small and cheap. He moved in.

Within a few months he had a new girlfriend (#2). A few months later, his new fiance, a woman (#3) and her two kids, move in. She didn't know about girlfriend(#2), who was still in the picture.

Couple months later, she (#3) comes by and we get chatting. She wants to know if there are any apartments I know of that she could move to, she can't live with him "no more."

She said she'd gone in to the doctors, with her two kids in tow, to have blood work done because she's pregnant with his baby. "So why you leaving if you're engaged and pregnant?"

"He was there, with another woman (#4). She was wearing MY engagement ring AND she was there for blood work for THEIR baby!"

I asked her what he said?! "He introduced her as his fiance (#5) in front of my kids who thought we was engaged. I ain't livin' with him no more. And, I know he's got a woman(#6) in Canada he's hooked up with online. I'm Done!"

Well I can't blame her! And she moved out.

About a month and a half later, he's got another woman(#7) who moved in the be a roommate and help pay the rent (with her kid).

The TV Stereo type exists! At last count, the tenant next door has at least three woman right now, all thinking they're his one and only. That's at least 7 women in the last 18 months.

Don't ask me how, I haven't got a clue, but he does it!

So the girlfriend had poor credit.. when brother was with her and she went to look for a new car, at the pay $ per week her credit came up poor. She said her ex was the reason for it. The guy at the finance it here car sales said "I'm sure the jewelry credit accounts and the Victoria Secrets were his."

So with a poor credit rating she starts looking for a car. Finds one. Great. Signs paperwork and off she goes. 

1 year later: tires go. "Dear, I need tires"... 

Brother: "Try the tire place"... 

Girlfriend:"But, I can't afford tires"

Brother: "Look online for used tires"

Girlfriend: "but I don't know how"

Brother: I vhae a meeting today... 

Girlfriend: "I need help.. please? 

Brother: "Fine, I can reschedule I guess. "

<tires are found and picked up at a personal sale -use>

Girlfriend: "I got the tires put on sweetie! And the guy said I needed a part fixed so I paid for it.. it was $460. " 

Brother: "I could have done that for you for $150, why didn't you call me?"

Girlfriend:"I didn't think about it.. " Brother: "How did you afford it, I would have thought you'd call at least because of that"

Girlfriend:"Oh, I had enough money, It's ok." 

<<< a year later>>> 

Girlfriend: "My car's not working"

Brother: "what's wrong with it"

Girlfriend: "I don't know but it costs too much to run"

<<<< Girlfriend goes to a second pay here buy here place. Buys an older style bmw and brings it home >>>>

Girlfriend:"Look at my new car"

Brother: "What about the old car?"

Girlfriend:"I'll give it back to them, the guy at the car place was like a friend, he'll take it back, he liked me.."

Brother: "yeah, because you were buying a car from him.. he's not going to let you out of the payments till they're done"

Girlfriend:"I'll work something out.. "

<<<<< two months later>>>>> 

Girlfriend: [phone call] "Can you move my old car down into the woods or put it in the barn? the guy from the car place is coming to get it and i haven't had time to clean it out so I don't want him to take it yet.."

Brother: "Why is he coming to get it ? Is he reposessing it? "

Girlfriend:" No, of course not.. he's just being nice and getting it so I wont have to drive it in... "

Brother: "Then why not rearrange to get it later when you've got it cleaned out?"

Girlfriend:"Oh, he's not answering his phone, that's alll"

Brother: "Then he'd be ok when he got her and understanding if we said we'd bring it in after you cleaned it out.."

Girlfriend:" Umm... just hide it for me will you? I have to get back to work, my break is almost over.. bye! Love you"

<<<end phone call>>> 

Brother cleans out the car.. finds a small trash bag of empty and partially full small vodka bottles and juice bottles shoved under the seats hard enough to need screw driver to un-wedge them.

The car guy shows up... loads the car and says "No hard feelings between you and I right? This is just business..." 

Brother: "She said you were doing her a favor by picking it up so she wouldn't have to bring it in..."

Guy: "Yeah,... umm.. .a favor... that's it.. that's why I came with a flatbed truck and loaded it.. "

Brother:"Right.. thanks" 

Guy: "Right.. "

<<< first car leaves... on a truck>>>> 

Later that night.. the newer car was going to save her money over the old one's gas bills and lower the payments because the other car would be taken back. 

Taken back is right - more like repossessed. 

She now has two car payments (one for the repossessed one and one for the new car) and the gas mileage is worse on the new car.. 

Penny wise pound foolish.. well in this case no wise... 

Just another day in a red neck soap opera

So Miss Girlfriend has finally gotten a divorce from her now ex. Yeah for her, that must make her feel all sorts of better. 

My brother on the other hand, has now gone from the safe girlfriend to one that's hinting by posting pictures of wedding rings on her Facebook. 

Now, depending on who you're talking to, there are a lot of things going on here that could lead to a nice emotional explosion soon. 

Brother: he's lost the "safe" girlfriend. Depending on who he's talking to he loves her (talking to her) or she's just convenient to have around (he's talking to mom), they're both driving me nuts (talking to me).

Mom: she's a hussy, she's opportunistic, she's out for his money (which is feast or famine due to self employment), she's using him, she's controlling him, she's abusive to me (mom)... pick a statement.. they've all been said.

The girlfriend: I love him. Now, dear, I want... We're going... Do this.. I love you... you don't make enough you should get a real job... my kids want to use your atv... of course you can pay for the gas... oh you have to hit the road for a trip at 4am - we need to talk will 1am... I love you... you're lucky to have me no one else would want to live with you and your mother...

All's fair in love, war, and a red neck soap opera

Think about moving in with a judgmental mother-in-law. Now, think about moving in with the same mother of the man you're interested in, but not married to him... married to another man. Does that sound like the scene of domestic bliss? Right.

--------------------------------------

So let's picture a day in the house from everyone's side. I'll put what the person is thinking in ( ) so that the mental commentary will be there for you to get the depth of this episode. 

Enter a living-room open into a kitchen. Three people present, girlfriend, brother, and mom. 

Mom: "How'd you're day go?" (Son? )

Brother: "Fine, worked in the barn for a while, drove the truck." (worked my a** off all day and am tired and would like supper and to crash)

Girlfriend: (ugh)

Mom: "Guess I should get some supper." (Not that anyone else will do it, and I've mowed the lawns, weeded the garden, done two load of laundry, cleaned the dishes she made last night... )

Girlfriend:(I hope she doesn't think I'm doing anything, i've worked all day and driven home, i'm done. I'm going to finish my candy crush game)

Mom: "Anyone want to suggest what we have tonight?" (Or help make it?)

Brother: "not spaghetti again.. please... "(the same meal over and over is ugh..)

Mom: "Ok, how about mashed potato, hamburgers, green beans, corn, and some bread?" (wonder if miss priss will eat it this time or the dog will get it all again...)

Girlfriend: (ugh, I've seen that look, guess I have to cook again.. jeesh, like she does anything all day) "I planned on cooking tonight, you shouldn't be cooking and doing so much... at your age."

Mom:(i can still spank your butt at 'my age') "Oh, that will be nice"

Brother: "Hamburgers sound good. I'm going to do some paperwork till dinner." (God, I've got so much work piled up.. .glad I didn't have to mow the lawn.)

Girlfriend: (ok, hamburgers, i don't want hamburgers, let's see... garlic mashed potatoes, I know she says she doesn't like it but it's just a way to criticize me and i like garlic she can deal. Some spices in the meat will work to make it not taste like hamburgers... hmm..) "Do you like your hamburger well done? "

Mom: (how about without spice this time? I'd like to swallow it without a gallon of water) "Well done would be lovely"

Brother: "What? Oh, yeah, not mooing is great.." (where did I put that file? )

<time passes while no one talks much - mom folds laundry for everyone >

Mom: "I've folded your laundry. I added it to the pile on the stairs I folded yesterday." (And the day before, shortly I'll have to go all the way up the stairs to get an empty step!)

Girlfriend: "Great, thanks"

Brother: "What?" (where was that invoice?)

Mom: "You're welcome.. and if you put the rest of your laundry in the basket down stairs I'll do that too" (because if I don't it wont get done and if you would take your underwear, bras, etc. off the floor in the bathroom it would be great.. I really don't need to see your butt floss every day for weeks.. I've seen the same leopard print scrap of cloth for two weeks and counting sitting in my bathroom.. no self respect..)

Girlfriend: "Did you do something to the laundry? It smells funny?" (You did something I know you did.. gah..)

Mom:"I found the wash you started last week in the washer still. I sent them back through the washer since they had soured in the washer. If you buy some fabric softener, I'll put it in with it.. or don't leave laundry in so long.." (if you hadn't used all of the softener i'd have some to put in, or if you replaced the soaps, creams, makeup, etc. that you 'borrowed' from me, there might be more here... or do your own laundry... lazy)

Girlfriend: "This will be done soon" (and then you can go back up stairs to your belfry you old bat. I worked all day and you did nothing.)

Mom: "you're burning the food" (Pay attention you nitwit... i'm too tired after working all day to cook another meal and i'm not wasting a whole meal of food.. jeesh it's not like you worked all day, you do an office job and sit on your butt)

Brother: "Is something burning? "( another night of burned food.. hope we have a lot of ketchup)

------------------------

sounds like fun huh? Just another night in the great red neck soap opera... 

Last episode had as many paragraphs starting with So as I could stand... and talked about the Girlfriend's cooking and LOVE of garlic (I think that love is just to piss mom off, but I can't prove it).

The girlfriend has no sense of money, OR she has a great sense of money - you be the judge.

On weekends her two teen boys come to spend time at Mom's/Brother's house. During these weekends, Mom & Brother buy the groceries (sometimes girlfriend pitches in) and the kids want to be entertained.

My brother has a couple of ATV's that he uses around the place to move wood, check down back, etc. But, they can be for fun too - love multi-use tools!

This weekend, bearing in mind there isn't a lot of money in the household right now (seasonal fluctuations in work, etc).

The boys used the ATV's all weekend. I'm not sure if they had to have the ATV's surgically removed or what in order to go to bed at night because the two boys, with two ATV's used up $80 in gas.

When asked for $$ towards the gas, girlfriend said: "you let 'em use them... I didn't have anything to do with it. I'm not paying for the gas."

Ain't love grand?

In our last episode about Da Girlfriend, she was wondering if working was bad for her.

So Mom had been upset that there are three adults living in the house and mom was doing all the cooking. She said it would be nice sometimes if someone would cook instead of her. My brother tried. He's not a cook and he does a lot of work until late in the day, then goes back out and works some more.

So Mom finally asked outright if the girlfriend would try helping around the house with cooking since she doesn't clean.

So (how many paragraphs can I start with So), Anway, SO the girlfriend started cooking. Mom had always cooked as much home grown, "real" food as possible. Low on the sodium, low in fat, etc. Still good stuff.

So the girlfriend has started cooking. Having heard that mom went to the doctor's for a check up and they want her not to use much salt (and the girlfriend isn't supposed to be using salt for her own heart) the new recipes all contain lots of salt. Mom and my brother get BAD gas and gas pains from garlic. Guess what almost all of the recipes now use? Yup, garlic.

So the cold war continues ( I can't imagine what else you'd call it). The cooking is of stuff that is almost repugnant to mom. Being self employed the household does not have a lot of money and mom hates wasting food.

So instead of eating some nights, she goes to bed hungry the nights da girlfriend cooks. The dog is getting fat because the girlfriend doesn't eat her own cooking, she takes some then gives it to the dog.

So my brother asked where she eats since she doesn't eat much at the house. She 'gets something on the way home from work'.

So, this is added to the house cleaning part of the cold war. If I wasn't worried about Mom and my brother, this might be almost funny to watch to see what the woman will come up with for more cold war antics.

When my brother's girlfriend first arrived, they have talked on Facebook for a while and "got to know each other" that way first.

NOTE: I believe, personally, getting to know someone online is HARD. Yes, you get to talk, you get to interact, but that doesn't mean that you get to know THEM. You get to know the edited, rewritten, thought out persona they wanted to present. Just MHO.

Anyway, she had been married early (like 18 early), had two kids, divorced, married again and separated. She works full-time, (although she has odd hours lately.) She was supposedly part owner, at one point, of a construction company and loved riding ATV, hunting, working beside her man... etc. All the right things to say.

I've met her. She doesn't talk much when I'm around. I don't know if that's a way to not present a poor impression because she's not sure I'd like her, or if she just doesn't care to talk when I'm around. But then, I'm not around much in person (live 2hrs away). Mom and I talk every day on the phone and my brother and I talk about once per week.

Bro doesn't need to talk much, mom will fill me in on anything going on. She calls every morning. My brother knows this, and will make comments from the background while we're talking. At times I'm put on speaker phone and we do the three way chat. Thank God for phones, otherwise family wouldn't be able to stay in touch as easily (FB doesn't count as much to me... call me old fashion.)

So, my brother works for himself. He and mom have a company or three together. (Another story)

They work hard, physical -manual labor hard, many days. Girlfriend knew this. She knew that was part of the lifestyle and when she said she likes working beside her man - and my brother was hooked... he wants a partner (who doesn't).

So as time has gone on, she no longer likes going snowmobiling(ooh is that a story!), no longer likes ATV'ing, doesn't want to help put in the wood, doesn't want to help in the barn with the equipment for one of the companies (nope, not cows and animals sorry).

A month or so ago, she was told no more electric heaters in the house, it costs too much. Heat in this house is wood. So, they need to put in wood.

About three weeks ago she developed a "heart condition" and is unable to work much. Maybe she really does have a heart condition, but it's funny to hear the running she's doing if she got a heart issue. If exercise helps with heart issues, she's going to make her heart stronger.

She helps for about 15mins at which ever task, then runs inside to check her blood pressure, then goes back out and works for a little while, and then runs back in the house to check her blood pressure. Mom counted and she did this run back and forth about 12 times in 4 hours.

When she was asked why she kept checking, if she was ok... she said "I think working might be bad for me, so I'm checking."

In our last episode of a Red Neck Soap Opera Eric, dad's step-son, had dropped out of high school, gotten married and earned his GED. His wife and he had two sons. He started a relationship, while still married, that gained him a daughter. Didn't make it through the daughters' gestation before breaking it off with her mom. He's back living with Dad and Terra and found a new girlfriend to try his his luck at love again. One ex-wife whose the mother of his two sons, one ex-girlfriend whose the mother of his daughter, and our story resumes...

Eric and his new girlfriend were working out great. They moved into the apartment attached to dad's house. They planned on paying rent life a normal rental. But, that didn't work out. They ended up living for free after issues with employment. 

Sadly, this relationship ended not lasting through another pregnancy. 

His ex-wife was beginning to have issues with his philandering, his wandering off with new people and relationships all the time. Getting her boys attached to someone, then ripping that away. Giving them new siblings that they didn't understand. 

She was also thinking of moving away. Partly to move the kids away from a bad influence that was around Eric a lot. (Another story)

The ex-wife had taken in a young niece and had too much to deal with without Eric's late or non-existent child support. His excuses were honest and probably true, but she needed help, not excuses.

Excuses about other children needing financial help didn't make her sympathetic, she felt he should be helping with his first children first and should have thought about starting new children and whether he could support them before he started them.  They he needed to have a better job in order to help with his kids. That his needing to help a girlfriend with rent, etc. was not an excuse. 

She wanted to move away. He wasn't to stop her from leaving, but didn't have a place to live of his own, he was back to living with dad and Terra. She needed to go elsewhere for work and he didn't have any place for the kids to stay if he tried to take them. During visitations he would bring them to dad's. He couldn't afford to live in the apartment and was back in his old bedroom. 

By mid-twenty Eric was once divorced, more than three times dumped, with four children by three different women, with a very low paying job and again single. 

One day, his third "ex" came by to drop off his youngest son. He was her youngest too and she was now living with her new husband and her other three kids. She said she'd be back to pick up in a few days. She never came back. Now Eric was a full time dad living in his parent's house with little money, poor job, and no way to pay for daycare. 

Dad's heart had been getting worse over time, as heart issues seem to. He and Terra ended up babysitting when Eric wasn't around. They housed them, fed them, bought clothes and etc. for youngest, and everything else they could to help. 

Terra was working and dad was now fully retired (no church school). 

Eric's ex-wife took this time to challenge for parental rights. Eric couldn't afford to pay the child support, she'd moved south and re-married and the man wanted to adopt the boys. 

Eric signed off his parental rights two his two oldest sons. 

He lived with dad and Terra with his youngest son from the time that youngest son was about 3 years old till he was about 6. Then he found a new girlfriend. 

They moved in with her and her children. This was not a very calm relationship either. Again, more rocky relationship issues. But this time no more children. 

Eric and his son moved back in with dad and Terra. Dad would ask me to come down and clean off his computer some times. It was filled with porn from Eric's roving online and the hard drive would run out of space. 

Again, they supported both Eric and his son financially and emotionally. This happened off and on of the years. I can't recount every time, but sometimes it was both Eric and son and sometimes it was just son living with them.  Dad and Terra were like parents to the young son.

Then, Eric found another girl. They've moved in together and are planning to get married. Eric has been with the new girlfriend for a few years now and they have a daughter who was born this year (2013) .

Over the years dad and Terra spent a lot of time, money, and emotions on Eric's children. Sadly, he forgets this and takes advantage of the time they didn't always have available, but made for the kids to perform free babysitting, driving, etc. They never complained, but as time went on, they became poorer and poorer and went through enormous debt issues. I'm not sure Eric ever really realize how much. 

I mentioned once that leaving a child alone with a man who can't stay awake for long, can't be positive he wont have a heart attack while watching a child, doesn't have much strength left, etc. was not probably easy for the child nor dad... but that was not a 'politically correct' comment in dad's part of the family. Terra was offended that I would suggest that it wasn't right and dad just said he agreed but what else did Eric have for his kid. 

The kids are not around as much, Terra and dad (when he was alive - he died this year also) missed them after having them live with them so long. 

Eric has worked his way up to assistant manager at a local small retail store. He spends time with the kids he still has access to. I don't believe he knows where or how his first two children are. His story isn't over, but I'm hoping for him and his kids that it gets easier with time and that this lady is truly "THE ONE". 

Anyway, Terra's oldest child, Eric, has five children in this world, many hurt hearts and broken relationships. 

I will say that he has matured over time. He's working full time, he's acting more of a dedicated partner in a relationship, and he is paying more attention to the children he has left to him. He's in his early thirties now. 

When my brother and I spent time with Terra and her family after dad died, I can honestly say, Eric and his fiance were pleasant to spend time with. Some of the other parts of the family were more --- difficult.( Again, another story.)

I give Eric props for maturing. I'm sad it was so rough for him to get there and I hope that the short time I saw him was an accurate representation of what he is now. Dad was the only father Eric remembers and though I don't always agree with how he took advantage of Dad and Terra, I know his loss was felt strongly by Eric and his kids.

Eric's life after high school - sadly it isn't life after high school diploma, it's just life after dropping out of high school. I'm sure he had reasons that were good to him for dropping out, but I'm not privy to what they were. 

It wasn't for money to support the family. His mom was working and dad was receiving retirement. There were some other sources of income also in the household, so it wasn't that. (Not that it was a very well off household, but more of a normal middle income).  

He didn't like school work. Didn't like reading. Didn't like math, or science, or anything else except for basketball - which isn't enough to pass high school. 

Eric started dating. He went through a lot of girls. I don't say he loved a lot of them, just dated and traded and was like some young men, he prided himself on being able to catch and release. 

He finally found a girl who was more strong willed than he was. She decided they needed to get married. I think in many ways she was good for him. 

She was older than he and worked full time. They got married and then were expecting a young one. During this time, she made Eric get a job part time and work on his GED. She wasn't him to better himself. 

She wasn't an easy person to be around. She was very forthright and could be demanding, but that was good for her job. She was a bad debt collection agent. 

When the baby came, they were gifted with a son. They were both very proud. She had a good job and so "they" decided that Eric would be a stay at home dad and get his GED and stop working. She would stay working full time to keep the money coming in and the benefits that went with it. It was a good arrangement. 

Eric did eventually earn his GED with her 'encouragement' and pressure. She began to be unhappy with him not being driven enough to get a good job now that he had the GED. That he didn't have ambition. 

They fought off and on. She threw him out of the house for a few days at a time. Then for a week at a time. 

They reconciled. They were going to work things out and save their marriage. Another baby on the way. Life was going to be great now. 

And then, she began to be less "attractive" due to getting rounder from pregnancy. Less "fun" because she was tired from having a job, being pregnant, and having a young baby. She got grumpy (more than normal) and they argued. 

Eric sought out solace with other women. Before his wife's pregnancy was half way through, he had another child on the way with his girl friend. For some reason, his wife did not think this was acceptable. 

Husband and Wife ended up cheating on each other. Before both babies were born, Eric had lost/left his wife for the last time and been dumped by the pregnant girlfriend. 

Before being into his mid-twenties he was father to three children, (two boys by his (ex)-wife and a daughter by the ex-girlfriend). He was not really employed and had moved back in with dad and Terra. 

At this point, he was expected to pay some child support. It's hard to pay support when you don't have a steady job, or one that's well paid. 

He kept dating. As time went on, he found another girlfriend who was going to be "the one". She already had other children with multiple fathers and so she understood having kids and broken relationships. 

Well, they started dating seriously. He moved in with her and proposed. He was still able to visit with his three children and life was going great.

Well, until things changed... 

You've met Terra in previous episodes and heard she had two kids, so now's time to learn a little about the kids. 

Let's start with the oldest of her kids, her son - we'll nickname him Eric. 

When Eric first came to dad's house after the marriage he had some trouble adjusting. Instead of using the bathroom, he'd find a corner at night and just go here. It was sad. He seemed to know the difference, but didn't want to follow the custom of using a bathroom. 

Of course, he went to the small, privately run, church school. The school used a booklet based  learning curriculum. The kids were given time to work on the booklets and when they completed the booklet, then they passed on to the next subject/level. 

I'm not sure it was implemented correctly. As I got older, I visited a few times. I never saw instruction going on, just kids sitting and reading booklets and filling out sheets. I always thought it would be harder for those who might not read as well as others might. There was very little interaction between kids. 

When we were growing up dad didn't believe in religion. He was a Darwinist all the way. Survival of the fittest and evolution was his theory. When he married Terra he told me that he was going to join her church to make her happy. He was not a giving person. But his relationship with the church is another episode in this soap opera.

My dad was a retired high school science teacher and had taught public school for a long time.  When he retired, it was due to his health. He offered to be a teacher at the church school. Terra was an assistant teacher. Dad became the principal at the school in addition to being a teacher. As far as I ever knew, there were only three or four employees in the "school" there. When the kids graduated, they took the GED test and earned a diploma that way. 

The school didn't survive for a long. As the years went on, it became more and more obvious that the kids weren't doing as well and the parents switched them to public schools. 

Eric and his sister spent all of their educational experience in this church school. It was safer to Terra's way of thinking. 

When the school at the church closed due to under enrollment, Eric and his younger sister were sent to public school. 

As he got older he started hanging out with kids who really weren't good examples of law abiding citizens.  He started wanting to make a good impression on them. Things started disappearing out of the house. He didn't start with small things, well, maybe you'd call it small, but... Dad was a gun collector. He liked guns and probably should have been a gunsmith instead of a teacher. He was not known to keep them all locked up. 

Guns went missing. Sadly one of the kids he was stealing with got shot. It was a mess. Terra covered it up quickly and we didn't get hear a lot about it, but between that and him showing other issues, he was sent to a counselor. Turns out he has trouble understanding the difference between right and wrong.

This was while he was in public high school.

Eric was obsessed with basketball but was not really good. He didn't do well in public school academically, but dad and Terra wanted him to think about college. He was a sophomore I think, when they asked me if I would take him to the state college to visit it and talk to an enrollment officer. 

I was the 'logical choice' because I was in the last few semesters of college to get an education degree, but the college I was to take him to was about four hours away. 

I did take him. It was a little awkward since he and I had not spent much time together over the years. I lived with my mom and brother, more than an hour away.I was in high school when dad married Terra and when I tried to connect with Terra's kids, it didn't work. (Again, another story, for another time).

I didn't come over much to visit (between high school, not being overly welcomed by some in the "new family" and going off to college) and so I had no real connection with Eric. But we went. I paid for lunch and supper, gas and drink/snacks. 

We talked with the college and, for a kid who's not sure about college, I have to say he tried. I filled in when the pauses in the conversations got too long, so I did more talking than he did. I tried hard to let it be all him. I brought him back and stayed for supper. Then headed off the almost two hours back to college. 

He didn't finish high school.