BOBBY AND HIS HOMEWORK PART 18

Bob knocked on the door and asked me to help him with his math homework. I doubted it was due to his interest in math, but due to fear of being expelled. He had some simple geometry problems and I began with the basics.  He seemed bored and began to shift restlessly in his seat.  "Bob, what's wrong?" I asked.  "This just is not interesting"  he said.  Who cares, he added.  I had to reach deep in order to try to reach him.    I used an anology of building a house.  "When a house is first started, they start with the foundation.  They dig a trench and fill it with cement.  If that was where they stopped building, what would a cement foundation do to catch the future owners interest?  He envisions a beautiful home to enjoy life in.  But, that foundation is necessary to a beautiful home.  Your bedroom that you love so much rests on a solid foundation.  You are building your life.  Someday, you will be responsible for your own survival; you will change as you grow older; you will wish for a family and children, you will seek pleasure from life.  You must build a solid foundation before you can have a good life."  He stopped fidgeting and listened.  I felt like I was on a roll and asked him to take a ride with me.  He jumped at the chance.  I stopped at 3509 and asked his parents if I could do that as I wanted to teach Bob a lesson.  They also jumped at the chance.  I drove Bob down to a dive...a very low class bar..I wanted him to see something.   I parked the car and approaced the bar.  Raucus sounds were coming from inside and as luck would have it, there was a bum lying on the ground and vomiting.  Bob turned pale and told me this was horrible and why did I bring him there.  I pointed at the bum and told him that this was the end product of building no foundation ; this was the end product of alcohol!!!  "don't you ever start drinking unless you want to end up like this. No one ends up like this unless they take that first drink".  I really over stepped my bounds; I grabbed him and shook him and said  "never take that first drink, do you understand me?"  He was frightened beyond measure, and looked me in the eyes and said  "yes sir".....I took him back home and he said nothing as he got out of the car and walked head down to 3509.    (to be continued)