My Friend's Emancipation

This weekend has been a tough one. I had to face people who were spiteful and hateful, but it was all in order to help one of my friends escape his family. They threatened to call the police on me, and said that I manipulated my friend into wanting to be emancipated. But I know that it was his choice and that he deserves a chance at living a normal life without such a disfunctional family holding him back. I'll start at the beginning.

My friend lives in a family who doesn't care enough about him to do the right thing for him. The stepfather does drugs and spends all the money that is supposed to go to food and rent for his family. The mother is too weak to leave him and give her kids what they really need in life. It is an abusive and secretive household, and there is so much corruption that I can not believe my friend has kept a hold on his good heart.

I met him only a year ago, but I know so much now that I know that the best thing for him to do is be emancipated and live on his own. He has had to grow up fast, and take care of himself and his little half-brother and sister when his mother was too busy cleaning up after her husband's mistakes to care.

Last week, the stepfather did something so horrible that my friend felt that he needed to become emancipated sooner than he expected. He already had a place picked out to live with a few of his older friends, so all he had to do was go to his house and pick up his things. But he had to tell his family what he planned on doing.

Since he doesn't have his driver's license yet and because I wanted to do all I could to help, I drove him to his aunt and uncle's house (his parents are moving to St. George but he had to finish up the first quarter of school) to get his things. He said that more than anything he needed moral support.

I haven't been welcome at his house because the entire family believes that I ruined his parents' marriage. It is ridiculous to think that I, at that time seventeen years old, could be capable of ruining someone's marriage. I even comforted my friend's mother when she came to me crying on my shoulder because of his drug addiction and infidelity. A thirty-four-year-old woman cried on my shoulder complaining about her husband, and I got her to talk to my mom about it. But a week later she was perfectly fine with her husband again and all of the sudden hated me, spreading the word to her family that I was the Antichrist of marriage problems.

So when my friend told me he wanted to come inside, I was hesitant because I am now eighteen and can be arrested. But I decided that if she told me to leave I would. So the two of us walked into the house. Right when his aunt saw me, she said with spite and malice, "You have to leave right now. If you do not leave, I will call the police."

Calmly, I asked her, "Why?"

"Because his mother told me that you are not allowed to hang out with him because of the damage you've caused to her marriage."

Yes, I was angry and shaken and so completely confused on how these people could be so fucked up. But I left. I decided to wait in the car for a few minutes in case he came out with his things, but after five minutes it was apparent that that wasn't going to happen. The aunt and uncle came out of the house yelling at me and threatening me once more with the police, so I left, talking on my cell phone with my mom for moral support. I had never had adults act so hostile toward me in my life. I have always been the good student in school, the polite and quiet girl, but these people looked at me as if I was the exact opposite. It shook me.

I cried on the way home and for a little while in my room, waiting for the phone to ring in case my friend would be able to get out. His family was so unpredictable. The crime that my friend's stepfather committed was completely covered up by him, the mother, and the mother had enough nerve to tell my friend that it was okay to tell a little lie to get out of such legal matters. I was apalled, and so afraid for my friend. Their selfishness proved that they cared more about themselves than their children.

After waiting for a while, I decided to watch a movie to get my mind off of it. I was halfway through the movie when my cell phone began ringing. I snatched it off the couch and saw that it was my friend. I answered it and he said simply, "They let me go."

I sat there for a second as the words sunk in, and he asked if I could pick him up and take him and his bags to his new place. He had only talked to his parents for an hour, while his aunt and uncle talked to him for two.

When I got to him, he told me all the things that were said. His stepfather simply swore and threatened and verbally abused my friend while his mother sat on the couch trying to guilt trip and manipulate her son (which I have seen her do countless times).

My friend said that he would tell the cops what his stepfather did, and his aunt cut in with a line that I cannot believe any decent human being would EVER say. "The Bible says to honor thy husband. Well, I would throw my kids in the street before throwing my husband out in the street." My friend was just as angry and disgusted as I was, especially when his mother chimed in with the same statement. I couldn't even imagine having my own mother say that about me. I will never know how my friend feels, but I am trying my best to understand and help him however I can.

His uncle, however, was completely supportive, saying that he knew what his homelife was like and that he encouraged him to live on his own. Even though his uncle hates me too, I was so happy that at least one person was on my friend's side.

I drove him to his new place, where his best friend and a few other guys live. I am glad he will have someone close to talk to, and the rent payment is cheap so he won't have to work so hard at living on his own. His first month is even paid for already by his roommates. His friend helped him with his bags, and even though the place is kind of small, it's still a place to live.

My friend's mother is signing the emancipation papers on Friday, and I couldn't be happier for him. I am so proud of him for doing all of this, and at sixteen years old. I hope that he can do all that he needs to without feeling so stressed or overwhelmed. I know that sometimes it is going to be hard for him to deal with, but at the same time I know that this is the best decision he has ever made for himself. I believe that he can do this, and I pray for all the help he can get.