Tuesday, October 9th, 2012

“May I speak to Anton Heft, please,” requested the professional voice over the phone.

Anton was finishing up another roof for Steve when the phone rang. He was in a filthy pair of ripped-up blue jeans that looked as though they’d been through several years worth of roof jobs. His filthy tank top was rolled and tied around his forehead like Jim McMahon’s headband. The combination of the dirt, humidity and roof tar smeared various shades of black and gray all over his body and clothes.

This was the last good day of weather until a week full of rain was due. He still had the mansion in Lake Geneva to get water tight. He really didn’t have time for this call.

“It is; what’s up,” Anton rushed. “I’m really busy.”

“This is Officer Anderson, from the Racine County Sheriff’s Office. This is regarding your son Toby,” he half explained.

Racine County Sheriff?! Toby?! Anton’s mind instantly went to every possible horrible scenario. The sheriff’s office doesn’t call about your child to tell you how amazing they are. The sheriff calls about your kid with bad news, usually REALLY bad news. His heart dropped so fast it nearly knocked him over. He felt all the color leave his face while his ears burned bright red. An intense fear gripped him from the very depth of his soul. What did Karin do? What happened to his boy?

“This is Anton! What happened?! Is my boy ok?!” he pressed the caller.

“He’s fine, Mr Heft. I’m actually driving him back to his mother’s house. He’s been expelled from school,” explained the officer.

“Expelled?!” His fear quickly turned into anger and confusion. “How does a kindergarten child get expelled? Is this about those kids that were bullying him? He’s been taught to always stick up for himself. If his teacher would do something he wouldn’t have to.”

“Calm down, Mr Heft. He was expelled for truancy,” informed the officer. “He’s only been to school eight times this year.”

“What the fuck?!” Anton was irate. “My son needs to be in school. God damn it.”

“Mr Heft, relax. I’ve talked to the school for you,” the officer reassured him. “I’ve seen you with those kids in the park. I’ve been told that you are the reason the kids have gotten their park back. I thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome, sir,” Anton replied choking back tears of pride. “My son is my life and that park is for him and the other kids, not some drug dealer.”

“You’re exactly right, Mr Heft. You’ve helped a lot more than just your son and the school is also greatly appreciative of your actions which is why they have offered to allow your son back in school on one condition.”

“What’s that?” sighed Anton, relieved.

“If you file for custody of your son, they will allow him back in school,” he continued. “Just with this expulsion you have a strong case against her.”

“Deal! I’ll go file the paperwork today! Can you bring him to my house or at least wait to bring him to his mother’s until I’ve talked to her?”

“Legally? No, I can’t. However, I still need gas in my cruiser and Toby said he hasn’t eaten since lunch yesterday. I’m going to stop at McDonald’s so he can eat. I’d say you have about 20 minutes or so until I would be at her house,” the officer advised him.

“Okay, let me call his mother real quick and see if I can talk her into letting you drop him off by me.” Anton was banking on her being busy with another man, pretty safe bet.

“Okay, she has to be the one to tell me, though, not you,” the officer reminded him.

Anton didn’t say another word. He immediately hung up and dialed Karin’s number. What the hell was this woman doing to his son?

“What do you want? I’ve got company and I don’t want to see you,” she bitched into the phone.

“The Racine County Sheriff just called me to tell my that Toby was expelled from school today,” he informed her.

“Yeah, I know. See what happens when you teach him to fight in school?” she accused Anton.

“This has nothing to do with fighting!” he scolded her. “Truancy!”

“Truth?! You know nothing about the truth and the shit I go through. You think this shit is easy? Let him stay with you so you can see how hard it really is,” Karin rambled.

“Not truth, Karin, truan… You know, you’re right, Karin. Other than a lot of dick I have no clue what you go through. Let him come stay with me for a month so I can see just how hard it is. The school even agrees with you and said they’ll let him return to school if I stop being such a deadbeat and take him for a month.”

“See, asshole, even the school knows you’re a loser. I bet you won’t even last a week with him,” she boasted.

“That’s fine, I’m going to call the officer back and have him call you so you can give him permission to drop him off by me,” Anton pretended to be humbled by her little outburst.

“Good, now unless you have cigarettes for me, fuck off.”

***********************************************************************

“Dad?” Toby asked later that evening. “Can I live with you for good?”

Anton wanted nothing more than to have Toby with him full time. After this afternoon’s phone call he was going to do everything he possibly could to make it happen. From what the officer and the school told him, it shouldn’t be too hard to do.

“Of course, I would love that!” Anton replied. “I have some boring, grown up stuff to do to make it happen, but I’ve already started the process.”

“What kind of boring stuff?” Toby inquired.

“Boring court stuff,” he answered. “I have to ask a judge if it’s ok, first.”

“Why do you have to ask a judge?” Toby kept trying to understand.

“Because despite all the evidence stating otherwise, society still thinks moms are automatically better suited to care for a child than a dads,” Anton answered.

“But you’re a good dad,” Toby let his father know. “Do I have to do boring court stuff, too?”

“Thank you, Toby. That means a lot and no, just Mommy and I have to do the boring court stuff. You know she’s going to try and stop that from happening.”

“I know, just tell her she can still see me on Christmas and stuff,” Toby rationalized with his father.

“Boy, that’s your mama and you only get one. She can see you anytime she wants,” he informed Toby.

“I only get one dad, too and it’s the best dad ever.”

“That’s right, boy. Always remember, if you ever need me, ever. Just call and I’ll come running,” Anton promised.

“I’ll remember. Thanks, Dad,” scrunching his face in disgust he asked. “Can you get rid of that yucky smell?”

“What smell, boy?” Anton responded. “I don’t smell anything. I think you’re just trying to be funny.”

“No, Dad, it’s a rotten smell.”

“Ok, enough, boy. Time for bed.”