Short Stories

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THE PRODIGAL CHILD
A Short Story
Written by Dr. Rick McGrath, Ph.D.

It was just a few short years ago so it seemed. In reality it was nearly 15 years

ago. Always fresh in our mind, our daughter Becky decided one day that she was old

enough to go it alone. Something happens when a child turns 16 years of age or so it was

that way with us. A beautiful child was Becky. Sweet and caring. Always had a smile on

her face.

After her sixteenth birthday Becky changed. Her mother and I couldn’t keep her

in school. Day after day she would cut school and go somewhere else for the day. We

would get the call from her high school attendance office informing us Becky was absent

and wanted to see if she was alright. You can imagine our surprise.

“Becky, we need to speak with you honey. We just received a phone call from

your school saying you were absent today. Do you have an explanation?” “No, not really.

I just didn’t feel like staying in my classes today.” “Honey, where did you go?”

“Nowhere dad. I went across the street and a few of us hung out at the park.” “Becky

you know how important it is to stay in school. You know you won’t be able to get a

good job if you drop out.” I know, I know, said Becky.”

Eventually all of this misbehavior continued and we finally had it out. “Becky,

come in here. We need to talk with you. What’s really going on with you? We continue

to get calls from your school“. “Look dad, Becky said“. I don’t want to go to school

anymore. It’s just not for me. In fact I would like to get emancipated. I don’t like living

here either“. “What are you talking about Becky, her mother said. You know you are to

young to go out on your own.” “No I am not, said Becky. I am old enough to figure things out myself“.

Being responsible parents we weren’t going to allow this at all. We refused to

grant her wish. So Becky took matters into her own hands. She ran away and stayed

away for months. Her mother and I were crushed. Our baby girl was missing and we

couldn’t find her. We prayed and prayed. “Dear God please keep our baby safe. Bring

her home to us. You know we love her so much. Devil you take your hands off our little

girl. She belongs to us“, I would yell out in the back yard at night.

Finally out of the wild blue Becky reappeared. She was with an older guy maybe

twice her age. Apparently the both of them were on drugs. Drugs of the worse kind.

Heroin! “Oh Becky we are so glad you are home!” “Dad I am sick“, said Becky. “I need

to go to the hospital. I think I am going to die“. So we rushed Becky to the hospital

taking her to the emergency room. The doctors came out and told us that in fact she was

on heroin and almost overdosed.

Upon returning home we had a series of changes and decisions to make. Becky

being one of 6 children became the focus. As her father, I was in further denial. I tried to

find her real help but there wasn’t any available for children her age. If she was an adult

and you could afford the rehab it was available. Living in the county we lived in, not

much was available. We did find a source that provided daily doses of methadone to help

heroin addicts come down off the drug. In Becky’s case it didn’t help at all.

One day Becky decided to leave again. Deciding living under our parental thumb

wasn’t her way of living. Off she went back to the same evil person who introduced her

to heroin in the first place. At least for awhile I would stop by for a hug and to say I love

you.

One thing all drug addicts have in common is the need for money. Becky was no

exception. She had to feed her habit and the drug suppliers do not do credit. Eventually,

things around the house went missing. At first they were items we didn’t use often and

went unnoticed. Soon bigger items went missing. “Becky“, I said, “Where in the heck is

our blender. It isn’t where your mom usually keeps it“. “I don’t know dad, I haven’t seen

it“

While at work a few weeks later I received a call from the bank wanting to know

if Joni, my wife had written a check for someone to do yard work. A few days earlier

while at the bank, I was teasing the tellers that my wife was going out of town and I was

going to be home alone. The bank manager who over heard it remember me saying that

so she thought it prudent to contact me just in case. I asked the manager who called me

to keep him there and I would be right there. When I arrived at the bank I asked the guy

to explain himself as my wife was not in town that weekend. He told me my daughter

Becky had given him a check to cover her drugs.

Everything was out of control. Becky was stealing from us, taking things that

belonged to her two younger sister and now this. Our oldest daughter who was 17 years

older than Becky finally said, “enough is enough! Dad if you won’t call and have social

services intervene I will,” said her sister Rita. I was furious. Older daughters do what

they do and she made the call. They came an took her from the home for awhile. After a

court hearing they release her into our care. It wasn’t long before Becky got up and ran

away again. Back to the same undesirable that got her in this mess in the first place.

Not long after that we were contacted by the local authorities that Becky had been

arrested with her boyfriend for armed robbery. At gun point they robbed his aunt. Becky

was arrested and put in juvenile hall awaiting trial. Fortunately the judge went easy on

her. Her boyfriend received nine years in prison. Becky was awarded to State custody

and sent to a rehabilitation center several counties away.

At least now the cycle seem to be broken. She was away from home, receiving

counseling and interfacing with other girls her age who were struggling with similar

problems. For several months things went well. On a March evening we received a call

from the facility that Becky had escaped and ran off with another girl. They decided to go

to the girl’s home for safety and cover. Fortunately, the parents who had been going

through a similar ordeal with there daughter called us to report Becky was with them.

Her mother and I asked the kind folks to please hold Becky and we would drive over and

pick her up.

Joni and I drove several hours to pick our daughter up. When we got there Becky

understood and allowed us to drive her home. We kept her for the night at our house and

in the morning we encouraged her to turn herself in. She did and spent several months in

lock up at the local juvenile hall facility. This time gave Becky a chance to reflect on her

own life and what she wanted from it. Becky decide that the life she was living was no

way to live at all. While in the lock up she completed her G.E.D. and received her high

school diploma. She had decided it was better to come home and live with family who

loved her.

Needing work to keep her busy, my firm needed someone to hold down the front

desk position. She helped run our company as well and assisted in managing the 20

employees we had on board. Becky had made a miraculous recovery! She married and had 3 beautiful girls and now is working for herself.

With God’s help, his healing hand all things are possible!

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