When I was younger (early teens) I fell into the wrong crowd. Initially, these group of guys were ok and we had alot of fun without the need for drugs or alchohol. Sure we were the rebels and up until that point, were not labeled as "troubled teens".
Top 10 reasons I rebelled.
1. Acceptance
2. Bored
3. Driven by excitement
4. Couldn't live up to my sister's standards
5. I thought it was cool
6. I was looked up to
7. It was fun
8. I wasn't really hurting anybody
9. Acceptance (I know it's twice, but it really plays a big part)
10. Admired
Maybe we hung out at the arcade too much and basically had too much time on our hands. Smoking cigarettes, playing blackjack (for money), asteroids and space invaders...and let's not forget foozball! Yep life was great since we didn't have to work, make car payments, or have to really worry about money. Hey! I was only 13 at the time!
I had a run in with the law and got a free ride with some other buddies of mine to the local police station. We weren't doing anything bad at the time, we just wanted to get out of the rain and started playing in some cars at a local used car dealership. We didn't break anything, but yet, we still got hauled off to the police department.
Since we were juveniles, they called our parents and they had to come and pick us up. One of the guys got hit by his dad and my parents? Well... I think I'm still supposed to be grounded!
Needless to say, I didn't see those guys for a while since we were now "troubled teens"! At least until I could figure out a way to get to the arcade. One day I said 'mom, I'm going to the library after school'. Which coincidently was very close to the arcade. That day still haunts me and every once in a while I can hear my mom say "RUSS!"
You see, I really did go to the library - but come on! How long can you really stay there when the arcade is just around the corner. I guess mother knows best because that's where she found me... cigarette hanging out of my mouth - ugh! I could have died.
So my mom had had enough and instead of sending me to military school, she sent me to church! You see, my sister was all into that and if she was a good girl then miraculously I could be converted to a good boy! You would think so right? Well, I'm getting ahead of myself here.
So anyway, I found a new group of friends, we had fun, and somehow I got out of being grounded. Hey! these are church guys mom, surely we can't get into any sort of trouble right? So anyway, these new guys also had a mischevious side and we almost got into some trouble at summer camp. Apparently it's against the law to play with the fire extinguishers in the dorms. To us? They were these cool smoke blowers and besides, we didn't have to clean it up. Guess what? The fire department didn't think it was so funny and we were threatened to be expelled from camp...yikes!
So I went from being with troubled teens to being with... I don't know how they referred to us, but the guys from "Rutherford 3", were pretty well known.
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