Ch. 1

I didn't know where my son had gone after that encounter. I was up until almost midnight waiting for him to return and with each passing hour I became more worried and frustrated. He had never pulled anything like this before which led me to believe that he was getting so much worse. I finally decided to give up and go to bed. I unlocked the front door and headed to my room in hopes that he would come home safely the next morning. I would have called the police but the law clearly stated that I couldn't report him missing for another 24 hours. I went to my room and brushed my hair thinking about my troubled little boy. I felt as though nothing I did would help anymore. I tried yelling, grounding him, taking things from him, and yet he was still disrespecting me.

My best friend Rachel, who is his godmother, had even tried taking him for a few days and he did nothing but give her hell. I ended up having to go get him the very first day because he was hitting her daughter, Elliana. Now I know kids hit sometimes, but Eric had hit her so bad that she had bruises on her face, back, and legs. I felt extremely terrible but Rachel assured me that she would be ok. Sometimes I wondered if hitting him would help. I never raised my hand to him for the simple fact that I loved him too much to physically hurt him. But it looked as though I was going to have to try it.

I laid down in my bed and looked up at the ceiling. I grabbed the little cross that hung from my neck on a gold chain and began to pray.

"Heavenly Father, I don't know what to do anymore. I'm trying everything my parents used on me and yet, my son continues to get worse. Please show me what to do with this situation. I really feel like I've done all I can. Amen."

A small tear fell from my eye before I reached over and turned off the light. I fell asleep for maybe an hour before a knock at my front door woke me up. I turned on my light and put on my robe before heading downstairs to answer the door. I saw red and blue lights flashing from my living room windows and my heart dropped. I dashed to the front door and threw it open.

"Hello are you Miss. Davenport?" he asked.

I nodded, "Yes sir I am, is my son ok?"

The chief nodded, "He's alright ma'am but I'm afraid he's in a little bit of trouble."

I sighed with relief knowing he was ok but I was so angry that his trouble had been bumped up to the next level.

"We need you to come down to the station ma'am. We'll explain everything when we get there."

I nodded and closed my door so I could run upstairs and change. I sent Rachel a quick text letting her know that the police picked up my son and that I was on my way to the station. After that I threw on some grey sweat pants and a short sleeved v-neck t-shirt that hugged my body tight. I brushed my hair and slipped on my flip flops before grabbing my purse and heading out of the house. The chief got in his car once I stepped outside and locked my front door. I so wasn't ready for any of this. The entire drive down there had to be the most gut wrenching moment of my life. I never once thought that Eric would get this bad.

When I made it to the station, they took me into a room where my son sat at a table in handcuffs. Behind him stood a detective and a police officer I knew to be Rachel's husband Leon. Leon was Andre's best friend and is my son's godfather. I wondered how he felt walking into this room and seeing his godson sitting there. He shifted where he stood knowing how I must be feeling.

Across from him was a much bigger man who didn't look like he was in a good mood. He had real short black hair and a red bandana tied around his head. There were many tattoos all over his strong arms and a cold look on his face. His green eyes seem to pierce my son's flesh as he stared at him. He didn't turn and look at me until Eric glanced in my direction. For a split second the man's face seemed to soften upon a look at me but it returned to that same cold look once the chief of police walked in behind me.

"Miss. Davenport will you please have a seat next to your son." The chief said.

I sighed and pulled out the chair knowing that this wasn't going to be good. The big guy leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his massive chest while the chief took a seat at the head of the table. I folded my arms and glanced at my son hoping this wasn't as bad as it looked.

"Ok Miss. Davenport, first let me introduce my detective Mr. Kincaid and Officer Ramirez says he knows you already."

I glanced at Mr. Kincaid as he stepped forward and shook my hand. "Nice to meet you,"

"And this is Mr. Calaway," the chief said as he glanced at the tough guy sitting across from my son and I.

"Hello there." I said to the man who didn't even glance at me.

The chief sighed and then got to the point, "Miss. Davenport, the reason you were called here tonight was because your son and Jack Nicolson were caught breaking and entering into Mr. Calaway's home."

I chuckled, "Excuse me?"

"You heard the man," Mr. Calaway snapped. "Your boy and his punk friend broke into my house and stole quite a lot of stuff from me right Eric?"

Eric sniffed, "Whatever man, you got your stuff back."

"Yeah, but it's real sad that a couple of kids like you and your friend really thought you were going to get away with it."

"Calm down Mr. Calaway," Leon said, sensing that I was uncomfortable.

The big guy glanced at him, "And what are you going to do about it if I don't?"

"Mr. Calaway please. We don't want to arrest you for disturbing the peace. So please calm down." The chief said before turning back to me. "Miss. Davenport, because your son is a minor and this is his first offense we were thinking about giving him house arrest for a year and then probation."

"House arrest!" Eric snapped, "You guys aren't doing that to me!"

I glared at him, "Eric be quiet,"

"You shut up bitch! I don't even know why you're down here you aren't making things better!"

Before I could say anything the big guy reached across the table and gripped my son by the front of his shirt. He then yanked him halfway across the table so that he was face to face with him.

"If you ever talk to your mother like that again I'll rip your tongue right out of your throat little boy!"

"Let me go!" Eric yelled.

"Mr. Calaway! Please release the boy! I don't want to have to taze you." The chief said.

I looked at the guy in shock as he gently released my son, letting him fall back into his seat. The man then glanced at me with a hard look on his face. "Does he always disrespect you like that?"

I dropped my gaze and then Leon sighed, "He sure does."

The man nodded and then looked at the chief, "I don't want to press charges…I want to teach him a lesson myself."

The chief raised his eyebrow, "Well that wouldn't be up to me sir, you'd have to talk to the mother on that one. My work here is done if you aren't pressing charges."

The man glanced back at me with a softened expression, "I'll tell you what, I'll agree to not press charges, if you put your son through my boot camp program."

I trembled at that thought. This man wasn't messing around and seemed like he would kill my son if he had the chance. Something in me wanted to say no, but my heart was telling me that this would be a smart move. I had tried everything else except this.

"Mom please, I'll straighten up if you don't send me there!" Eric whined.

I glanced at him, "You've said that one million times Eric, how am I supposed to know you're being serious?"

He was about to say something else when Leon stepped in, "Send him there Serena. It'll teach him a lesson."

I sighed and looked at my son and then at the big guy, "Can I speak to you alone?"

"Sure." He said before following me out into a room that was next to it. There was a two-way mirror where I could see my son and the others sitting there. I stood next to the mirror and looked into the big guy's eyes.

"How can I be sure this will work?" I asked.

He chuckled, "It'll work trust me. Your son is no different from the other boys in my camp. He just needs to learn discipline and respect."

I nodded and glanced through the mirror at him. Mr. Calaway leaned his head to the side searching for something in me.

"His father isn't around is he Serena?" he asked.

I shook my head as tears fell from my eyes, "He died when Eric was three. I've been alone with him ever since."

"Just as I thought, it looks like you both need some straightening up to do."

I raised my eyebrow at him, "What do you mean?"

He crossed his arms over his chest, "Bring your son to my camp in Houston, Texas tomorrow morning at 6am. Pack a lot of clothes for the both of you because you'll be staying there too."

I shook my head, "I've got to work. I have bills to pay for my house."

"I'll handle all of that, just do as I say and I promise you won't regret it." he said.

I rubbed my arms and looked at my son, "Ok. Just write down the address and we'll be there."

He nodded, "Good."

I didn't know much about this man, but I could tell that he was about to turn our lives upside down. When we were done talking to the police, Mr. Calaway got a piece of paper and wrote down his information for me. He then glared at my son and said, "I'll see you at 6 am maggot."

"Maggot? My name is Eric!" my son snapped.

"I don't give a damn what your name is. From here on out, I'm going to make sure you learn the word respect."

My son rolled his eyes as Mr. Calaway looked at me and nodded, "Go home and get some sleep."

I nodded and grabbed my son by his forearm, "Get your ass in the car."

He snatched his arm away from me and walked out the door with a smug look on his face. I sure hoped that this boot camp was the answer to my prayers because I was at a loss with this situation.