dave cont'd

but i should explain in his defense
(although there is no excuse for the way he behaves sometimes)
he's been quite honest with us
in moments of sobriety and humility
he's scared to death.
he owes $39,000 in back child support,
most of which he racked up while he was in prison.
he's divorced
with one daughter, jenny.
he's stuck in this cycle,
fighting with the Friend of the Court.
he owes $39,000
and has no possible way of paying it.
he lives under a bridge and has no job
although he served in the navy for a while
(and is so proud of this)
he collects cans which will never amount to $39,000
and sees no hope of ever finding freedom.
so when he thinks about this
and knows there's that perpetual warrant out for him
and nothing he can do about it,
it is this hopelessness and fear that point him to the only thing that has provided any solace in the past.
these substances that we've become so familiar with.
Natural Ice (the tall cans, of course), heroin, vicodin
dave doesn't know Jesus.
yet.
but when that day comes,
so does hope.
just maybe that day is today.