Free Horse Camp by Nicole Helget

share his room.
    Stretch said for us not to worry too much because they would appeal the ruling. He said that it was important for us kids to see our mom and see how much support was out there for her.
    I have to admit that all those signs and protestors surprised me. I didn’t know that anyone was actually on Mom’s side. I mean, for crying out loud, she committed some real crimes. And you can’t just run around breaking laws whenever you want to. But when I said that, Stretch said that when the laws hurt the common folks, someone needs to break them. That sort of sounds right, too, but it’s not what Dad says at all. Not even close.
    Dad believes in following the laws and rules. And I, for one, was much happier when we were all just following the laws as a family. Then Pauly said he was going to beat up all those cops handcuffing Mom and break her out of jail, and I had to go to my room because I couldn’t take any more and was close to crying.
    I’m not one for being dramatic or crying or getting hysterical in public, but what Pauly said nearly did me in, so I just lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. After a little while, June Bug came knocking and asked if I was all right.
    It really bugged me that she was being so nosy and acting like she was my friend when we’re not even related and don’t even know each other. I told her I was fine. She told me not to worry and that I’d be stronger for all of these trials. I was about to get really mad at her for talking to me like she was the adult and I was the kid when she told me this:
    June Bug: You know, my dad’s in prison, too.
    Me: (My mouth goes dry, and I swallow. June Bug doesn’t look like the type of person who knows someone in prison. Granted, she looks a little more like a person who knows someone in prison than I do. But still, I am surprised.)
    June Bug: I think you should be proud of your mom. She’s going to prison for a good cause. She was helping sick people who couldn’t afford medicine and making sure big companies didn’t use poor people as lab rats. It’s actually noble. I wish I could say that about my dad.
    Me: But what she was doing was illegal! (Sometimes I am amazed at how quickly my emotions can change from sadness to anger. It feels easier to be mad than sad, and I am starting to get really mad at June Bug for being such a know-it-all. First chicken diseases and now prison.)
    June Bug: I think it’s relative. Some good deeds are illegal. That doesn’t mean they’re wrong, though. At least, I don’t think so.
    Me: (That sounds exactly like something Mom would say. Somehow, though, it sounds different from a person my age, even if it is June Bug. I’ve never even heard a person my age use the word relative like that before.) Why’s your dad in jail?
    June Bug: Something bad. He had a meth lab in his barn.
    Me: (Trying not to look surprised so I can avoid hurting her feelings, even though making illegal drugs is really, really bad.) You must be so mad at him.
    June Bug: I used to be. But I’m not anymore. Now I’m actually kind of proud of him. He’s been in prison for three years already. He’s gotten his GED in there and is even taking college courses. He wants to work at a rehab center when he gets out.
    Me: Do you think your mom and dad will get back together then?
    June Bug: No, because they were never really together in the first place and just conceived me on a fling. Mom said they went to a concert, met in the mosh pit, got matching tattoos, and conceived me all on the same night. But Dad had a different girlfriend already and wasn’t looking for a new one.
    Me: (Not too surprised after I consider the way Sheryl dresses.) I’m sorry about that.
    June Bug: (Shrugs.) It’s okay. I’m actually pretty okay with it. People do wild and crazy things sometimes, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad people or bad parents. I really