Boys and beer

Recently some young men in our social network were caught drinking beer. They are middle school age and we are friends with each family. Some people thought it funny. Many people enjoyed telling the story to others. As I listened to the saga I was changed. I became angry. I became cunfused as to any humor to be found in this story. I did not find this experiment to be a rite of passage for young men. I did not see this as ordinary behaviour. I know of a young man who began experimenting with drugs and alcohol at age 13. He was allowed to roam and run with his buds. He was given money for his back pocket. He was full of being a boy ready for good time. His parents were confused as to who his friends were. They were on the acceptable society chain. They had nice houses. Nice bank accounts. Nice jobs with moms who stayed at home. Nice everything. Nice bars filled with liquor for young lads to sip. Nice freedom to purchase drugs and even smoke in their house. Rooms so far apart no one would know. Young lads grow up to be men who will be unprepared for adulthood if their teen years were smothered in poor choices. You see their eyes become cloudy and blurred making it difficult to read the map. Their hearts become burdened with staying outside the lines. Their minds are rounded not sharp to remember what's right. These young lads become men only in years not in age. Boys and beer what a combination. Many have laughed and spoken. Who will think it a joke when one, just one of these boys, cannot laugh one day. It is no longer funny.