The 10 Year Old Manic.....


Sometimes something happens in the news that's so shocking, so bizarre, that I have to stop and think how this could possibly happen. I'm not taking about the Las Vegas massacre, or just another murder. There will always be crazy people. I'm taking about the story of a crazy kid.

Earlier this week a 10 year old Cleveland boy stole his mother's car. He didn't get far. He was found on the side of the road with 3 flat tires on the car. How that happened I'm not quite sure. But the repair alone would put a crimp in my credit card. But kids will be kids. Right? You could say the youngster was just curious, and made a very bad decision. You would think the kid would be in a heap of trouble. But he was released to his parents.

Finally in the ditch. at least nobody got killed.
A couple of days later he got the itch again. This time he stole his dad's car. His driving improved dramatically. This time he led state troopers on a 50 mile high speed chase down the Ohio Turnpike.

He crashed through the Turnpike gate. (Probably didn't want to use his tooth fairy money.) While being chased by the police, he reached speeds of 100 mph. He drove around special strips laid down to blow out your tires. The police eventually drove him off the road and he stopped in a ditch. But that's not all. He had to be dragged out a window. He kicked an officer in the face and spit on several others.



Special appearance by Big Bird, Barney, and Mr. Rodgers.
So what do you do with this kid? He has been charged with felony fleeing and was released to his parents again. If ever there were warning signs for a troubled future life, this kid has it. His dad says he thinks the whole thing is a joke. His parents are divorced. But most children of divorce don't end up as felons before they're a teenager. Maybe the kid can get a job as a consultant for Grand Theft Auto.

Imagine the proud mother socializing with neighbors. One neighbor might say, "My son just got his first merit badge in the Cub Scouts. They could reply, "Mine stole 2 cars and has a felony arrest."

So you gotta ask yourself. Is it nature, or nurture. Was the kid just born a bad egg? Or has his environment, how he is being raised, including video games, turned him into a lunatic?

I don't know. But if I can, I would try to stay clear of this kid as he grows up. Imagine when puberty kicks in. Sorta makes you shudder!

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