You Don't Know Jack

I've discovered a good radio station in KC. Unbelievable. "Jack FM" boasts "we play what we want." Good for them. Never have I heard DeBarge, Billy Idol, AC/DC, Elton John and Janet Jackson in the same half hour. Well, not since 1985, anyway. Finally, the 30-somethings gain some control over the airwaves. 'Bout time.

I'm glad I have the radio today. Ben's in Jeff City for the state track meet until sometime tomorrow evening. Bob is off on a "canoe trip" who knows where (he won't tell me) with DB. And I'm contemplating the hardest decision I've ever had to make.

It should be a no-brainer. But unfortunately, thanks to bureaucratic bullshit, it's not.

After sitting through an appointment with Bob's psychiatrist Wednesday afternoon and listening to DB tell her about the time he left Bob sitting in the parked car, in his car seat, in the garage while everyone else went inside because he was throwing a tantrum--and Bob ultimately got himself out and into the house--and listening to DB talk about how his girlfriend's two boys, ages 6 and 8, "insist" on sleeping in the same bed with Bob, and watching Bob completely come unglued yesterday morning after realizing DB would be picking him up--among other things--I've decided to hotline DB and his girlfriend for suspected child abuse of varying degrees.

Let's look at things, shall we? Bob has been, for the past couple of months, constantly holding himself. Sometimes he'll tell me "it hurts." And he's become obsessed with touching people on their behinds and kissing in inappropriate places, both at home and school (yesterday, he kissed my ankle). This makes me think something beyond inappropriate is going on after "lights out" at the girlfriend's house, and I don't dig it one damned bit.

I talked with Bob's therapist on the phone yesterday about my concerns. She said some things have been said to her by DB that have "raised a red flag" with her, but that were still "in the gray area," but she wouldn't elaborate. She said she's become more and more concerned about Bob's interaction with the girlfriend, and implied she thinks girlfriend may be mistreating Bob. Bob, himself, has told me about the hotsauce on the tongue for backtalking incident, as well as the time girlfriend "threw water in my face" because "I wouldn't sit down (in the tub)."

I called the local DSS office yesterday, and before I had even finished, the lady asked me if I had the hotline number and strongly urged me to call.

Here's what's keeping me from jumping on the phone. Bob is currently with DB until probably Tuesday. I don't know where they are. I can't get him back. I want him back with me before any investigation goes down.

I'm also afraid DB will put on his good ol' boy hat and "yes ma'am, no ma'am" the investigator into thinking he's SuperDad, the case will be closed, and my son will have to endure further crap, possibly even worse than before.

I'm also afraid I'll become Prime Target No. 1 where DB is concerned. I seriously don't think this will all end until he finally kills me. I'd prefer that be later than sooner. I'm afraid that, since he knows stepping out of line will land him in jail, he'll be more inclined to "make it a good one."

Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid and I should just call now. But I'd much rather wait until I have Bob back under my roof.