I looked down to the tranquil water pooled below me, a shiver went up my spine. I loved that feeling. In my peripherals I caught a glimpse of my best friend Simon. He did not love this feeling.  When our eyes met, it was like I could read his mind and it said, you’re freaking insane. I laughed to myself and adjusted my view back to the water.

We were standing up on a rusty old platform in the town’s Water Treatment plant. This was something I had wanted to do since I first heard of it in 6th grade. A group of seniors back then used to come up here to smoke and drink before jumping off. That all ended when an off-duty cop was taking his dog for a walk one night and heard them hollering. It wasn’t a pretty ending for those guys. But hey, that was 4 years ago, and I’m not smoking. The jump itself is enough of a high for me. I suppose it’s a good thing to get a high from that kind of stuff, that’s what I always tell my mom at least. “You should be happy I’m stimulating myself with physical activities rather than pot mom,” then I laugh and walk away. Thankfully, she agrees with me most of the time. Although I have a feeling if I told her what I was doing right now though, she’d rather me smoke a joint.
The drop is 25 feet, give or take a few feet. Not too bad, right? Wrong. The depth of the water you land in is only about 6 feet. Which means as soon as I land and gather myself, I can stand with my nose above the water line. I watched a youtube video before sneaking out of a guy called Professor Splash who broke the Guinness World Record by jumping from 36 feet into 12 inches of water. That convinced me that this jump would be easy enough.
I wiggled out of my jeans, and took off my shirt. Then I shot a look to Simon, who wasn’t moving. “Would you stop thinking so much?”
“No Paxton, I won’t, because that’s something that smart people never stop doing,” He looks nervous.
“Look man, I’m not making you do this, if you want to bow out, I don’t care.” I sway from my right foot onto my left foot and then back again. I really do want him to do this with me, I just can’t let him know i’m a little nervous too. Too late.
“You do care, you want me to jump with you and we both know it.” Busted. I let out a little laugh and he knows he’s right.
“I just want to break you out of your shell Simon, you never do anything fun or exciting,” I say back to him. This we both know is true. I am the impulsive thrill-seeking moron, he is the reserved guy that thinks through everything. Yet somehow me and him have been best friends since elementary school.
“Reading is pretty exciting to me,” he counters, and he serious. Simon can be so lame sometimes. He is the kid that always has his face stuffed in a book; no matter where we are he always finds time to read.
I decide to not degrade him about his reading comment, because I know if I do that he will just get upset and for sure not jump. Instead I have a different idea. “I know reading is for you, but this jump is to me what reading is to you,” a grin comes on to my face as I continue, “How about this, if you jump with me, i’ll read any book you tell me for the next month.” I have no plan on keeping true to that, but a little white lie won’t hurt him.
“You hate reading,” he said, eyeing me down,”You really want me to jump with you that bad?”
“Yes dude, it will be fun. Trust me.” I  replied, and  I think I have him convinced, he stands up from where he had sat down during our debate. He shoots me and look that says are you happy now. I return with a smile showing all my teeth and go back to looking over the platform.
The hard part of convincing Simon is over, and I am very relieved. I don’t want to jump alone into this, I feel better knowing someone is doing it with me. I don’t even bother asking Simon, who is undressing, if he wants to go first. I already know how that conversation would play out--I’m jumping first. I wait for Simon to join me at the edge of the platform.
“Damn, now that i’m jumping, this looks a whole lot higher than it did before.” I laugh at the nervousness in his voice, even though I don’t feel much different.
“The quicker we jump, the faster we’re at the bottom,” I try to calm him down. I’m getting sick of all this conversation though, I don’t want to think and talk about feelings. I want to jump.
I look down at my chest and see my cross necklace my mom gave me. I’ve worn it ever since she gave it to me, which was right after my dad left. I don’t really know why I still wear it, I think maybe it just makes me feel close to my mom. I push these thoughts out of my head and blink hard.
“I’ll see ya down there if you don’t wuss out,” I say inching closer to the edge. I turn and wink at him before launching myself off the platform.
Holy hell. My stomach drops as I flail my arms through the air to gather my body.  I start to panic in the air. how do I land in the water?! I never even thought that through!  I look down and the water is fast approaching, in a last second attempt I bring my legs forward so they stick out in front of me like a gymnast; then I brace myself for impact. I land hard, and almost immediately feel my butt hit the rocky bottom. Seconds later my face is back above the water and I am screaming from the adrenaline. I don’t care about the pain in my ass, that was awesome.
“Come on in, the waters fine,” I yell up to Simon who is leaning over the edge in awe.
“That sounded like it hurt,” Simon takes a step back from the ledge and I lose vision of him for a couple seconds. Is he backing out now? I begin to wonder before I hear him call out,
“Here goes nothing.”  He screams. Then I see Simon flying through the air, plummeting down at me. I jump to my left just as I hear his body hit the water. He doesn’t come up right away like I did. Just as I start to worry, he explodes out of the water.
“Ahhhhhhh, Oh my god that hurt!” He is screaming loud enough that you can hear echoes in the distance.  I laugh hysterically, he’s not seriously hurt, so I don’t hold it back. He’s grabbing and rubbing parts all over his body to try to stop the pain, eventually he can’t help but join in on the laughter himself.  We are enjoying this moment, when I hear a couple sticks snap behind us on the shore.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing” A voice barks out.
Our laughter stops. We both turn and face the one man no kid wants to see in this town.
“Sheriff Myers” I manage to squeak out, “What, uh, what are you doing here?” I am so startled i’m not sure he even heard me. He stares the two of us soaking in the water before he speaks.
“Get the hell out, now.” He’s wearing sunglasses, maybe he doesn’t realize it’s 10 p.m. We scramble to the dock, where a latter sinks into the water. Simon goes first and I follow him, Sheriff Myers has already walked out to meet us. No words are exchanged, we simply start walking torwards his squad car parked at the gate. Neither of us has clothes on besides our boxers. I contemplate reminding Sheriff of this, but decide it’s in my best interest to shut up. Knowing when to shut up is not something i’m good at, I am impressed with myself.
“You boys aren’t gonna even try to talk yourselves out of this one?” Sheriff ask as he opens the back door of the car.  We are both still soaking wet as he loads us in, which amuses me.
“Nah, i’ll wait until you appoint me a lawyer,” I say back being a smartass.  Neither Simon or the Sheriff laugh. I look over at Simon who is refusing to look at me. He’s never been in any type of trouble besides being grounded by his parents. I’m a little different, this isn’t exactly my first run-in with Sheriff Myers.
Sheriff starts the car and pulls away from the Plant. It’s scaring me that he isn’t even yelling or threatening us more. From my experiences with him in the past, he’s a very outspoken cop who loves to show you who’s boss. I wonder what he’s planning right now. 
We continue to drive in silence towards town.  After 5 minutes we turn onto Main Street. I live in a town called dallyville, population of about 2,000, not much happens here. Well actually, nothing happens here. The town is dead, it’s friday night, only 10:30. We continue down the street, I’m expecting him to turn into the police station. He drives right past it.
“Where we going man?” I can’t help but ask.
“Shut up Paxton, and don’t call me man,” he responds.  Theres the dick that I know so well. I don’t say anything back to him and we go back to riding in silence. It doesn’t take long for me to realize that we are going straight to my house. It makes sense I suppose, instead of going to the police station for her to pick me up and talk to the cop, we are just going to save a step and do it at my house. We pull onto Stony Brook road, my street. I live in a very old run-down part of town, lots of poor people, my family included.
We pull into my driveway, which isn’t much of a driveway. It’s more of a tiny slab of uneven concrete. Sheriff Myers turns off the car.
“So you’re not just dropping me off? Damn,” I ask Sheriff. He responds by laughing. Kind of scary. He usually would ream me out for a smartass comment like that.
“You can stay in the car Simon.” Sheriff Myers grabs me by the arm and leads me out of the car and up to the house. He knocks on the door 3 times and then looks down at me.
“Your mother doesn’t deserve this kid.” He looks disapointed. I open my mouth to respond but just as I do the door creaks open. My mom stands there, she looks tired and beat-down. She just got back from her double-shift at the clinic about an hour ago.
“What happened Stan?” she says to Sheriff Myers, they are on a first name basis now I guess.
“I think I better come in”  he says, basically opening the door as he says it.
“Of course, come on in.” This situation is weird, I would have rather been at the police station. Sheriff Myers in my house makes me nervous. He jumps right into it then.
“I found your son and Simon Hart down at the Water Treatment plant earlier tonight, they were trespassing and could be charged for destruction of property,” Sheriff breaks  the news to my mom. She looks at me for pretty much the first time. Admiring my body up, then down. I only have boxers on and it feels weird to have her looking at me like that.
“This is your sons 4th offense with me in the last year alone, and the path he’s heading down doesn’t look bright. The way we are going about disciplining him right now isn’t working.” My mom looks disapointed and confused.
“I agree officer, but we’ve done the best we could do.” I’m shocked at how quickly this conversation is moving along, they haven’t even asked me to talk yet.
“We have done the absolute best we can do Ms. Chambers,” he looks to me and then back to her, “I’ve been talking to some people who could help out though. I think a change of scenery would help Paxton here out.” What the hell is he talking about. I don’t like the sound of that.
“Juvee? Are you talking about freaking Juvee?” I can’t believe he would even suggest that. “I know i’ve been in some trouble guys but nothing that has harmed anyone, i’m not some kind of criminal.” My mom nods her head, I feel relieved that she’s on my side about this.
“Relax Paxton, I’m not talking about juvee,” his voice is dull.
“What are you talking about then?” My mom questions, now a little bit more interested knowing it’s not juvee.
Sheriff Myers smiles and takes off his hat. “Have you ever heard Valley Point Academey? I know the director up there and I think that environment would suit a kid like Paxton very well.” He states almost happily.
A kid like me? What is that supposed to mean, i’m not that bad. And a Military School? Is he serious?
“Military School?” my mom has a look on her face that worries me. She’s doesn’t look at all confused or shocked.
“It’s not necessarily military school, it’s just a different type of education and discipline that Paxton may benefit from.” Sheriff Myers pulls a brochure out of his coat pocket.  Did he have that in there the whole time? My mom takes it and opens the front cover. I see a picture of about 20 kids all lined up in identical uniforms. They look like robots.
“Hell no, thanks but no thanks ‘Stan’” I put air quotes on his name. I look at my mom for confirmation or some type of back-up, but she doesn’t look up. I look back to Sheriff Myers, who is scowling at me.
“You’re not in position to negotiate here, ‘Paxton’” he returns my air quotes with some of his own.
“It’s actually my decision,” I try to sound confident but it doesn’t come out that way at all. It’s really my mom’s decision.  He snickers at me and starts to speak when my mom interrupts him.
“Thank you Stan, Paxton and I have some things to talk over now.” She walks to the door and opens it up for Sheriff. My mom wants to have this conversation right now?
“Of course Sara, I just want what’s best for Paxton,” he says, but it doesn’t sound sincere at all and the all 3  of us know it. He opens the door and exits without another word.
I let out a big sigh of relief and shut the door behind him. I look to where my mom is standing near the kitchen door.
“Thank god that’s over, can you believe him?” I start to laugh, praying she’ll join in.
“Paxton this isn’t funny,” she is stone faced looking directly at me, “you haven’t been the same kid since your dad left. You’re in trouble at school, your grades have declined, and i’ve talked to that police officer 4 times about you. Maybe i’m just putting things together now, but I think I understand it now.” She is starting to get emotional. I hate when people get emotional, I don’t know how to react. Plus mentioning my dad means that she is really serious, we hardly ever talk about him anymore.
“I’m just a kid mom, it’s all part of growing up ya know?” I say back to her.
“This behavior is not a part of growing up, maybe it’s a part of growing into a criminal,  but not into a good man.” She’s sniffling now. “I think maybe this school is something that we should look further at, you need a male figure in your life to keep your head on straight.”
She cannot be serious. “Mom don’t be insane, i’m not gonna let you turn me into one of the kids in that brochure.” I start walking towards the staircase to signal the end of this conversation.  As I’m walking I yell behind me,
“I can’t believe you’re betraying me like this, what kind of a mom does that?”
As I  continue to walk up she calls after me, “Don’t hate me for this Paxton, I want what’s best for you.” I don’t look back to acknowledge, I slam the door to my room. I’m not gonna sit here and wait to be shipped out. I feel the necklace touch my chest, I rip it clean off and throw it at the ground.  When she comes to find me tomorrow morning, i’ll be long gone.