I stared at the prosecuting attorney as he told the judge what a menace to society I was. I glanced at the judge, just to notice her giving me an evil glare. The attorney described the events from last week.

“This young man, your honor,is a weed to society. He not only broke one law,but several. He thinks because he is an athlete, he can do anything he pleases.” The prosecuting attorney took a drink from his glass of water and look at his notes. “He is being charged for minor in possession,driving under the influence, reckless driving, running a red light, and failure to wear a seat belt.”

The white bearded lawyer adjusted his thin glasses. “Your honor, this young man is a role model in the St. Louis community. Do we want the youth of Missouri looking up to a role model like this? No, we don’t. Plus, your honor, as Mr. Kelly ran the red light he swerved to the left. He barley missed an on coming vehicle. Then continued to crash through a wooden fence and finally stopping as he ran into a dog house. Luckily there was no dog, your honor” With that the prosecuting attorney sat down and closed his brief case.

My attorney, Mr. Smith stood up adjusted his red tie. He proceeded to walk toward the judge. Mr. Smith started to speak. I was zoned out, staring at the American Flag. Then the images entered my brain.....

I woke up my head rang and realized that last night was not a bad dream. The iron bars were just inches from my head. I sat up from the cot. Images of red and blue lights ran through my head. And then suddenly, reality smacked me in the face. It was Thursday, game day was tomorrow, Mizzou was scouting, and I was sitting in jail.

My whole life thrown away because of some party. My future that I wanted, that I needed has been altered from its original path. I was a senior and a starting running back at a 5A school. I was 6'3” and 225lbs. My future was possibly paid for, maybe all the way to the NFL. But all that changed. Now I was sitting in a cold jail cell with no shirt. I was alone. My parents have been called and refused to help me. I was in a huge mess and it was up to me to get out of it.

The sound of jingling keys echoed through the cell. A large police officer in a blue uniform approached the cell door. “You have one call young man.”he said through his black beard. He opened the door and flipped a coin to Tyrone. Tyrone headed out of his cell to the payphone.

I thought about who to call, my parents would kill me!” But I continued to dial the phone was answered after the first ring .

“Hello Mom” I said.

“Tyrone Johnathan Kelly!” screamed Miranda “Where on Earth are you young man?”

“I got into some trouble and I need help.”

“Trouble?? Like with the law?”

“Yea, something like that.”

“Oh my lord! I’m going to get your father I can't deal with this right now” she said.
Tyrone barley got a breath in in when his fathers voice entered his ears.

“OK son you got one minute to explain to me what happen.”

“I was at some party, passed out, and the next thing I remember is I was in the back of a cop car.”

“So why did you wake us up?” His father asked.

“I was wondering if you can come and get me out?”

“Tyrone, you made a mistake. That could jeopardize your future. Its your job to fix it. Good night son.”

“Dad wait...” There was a click and the conversation was over. I was escorted back to my cell. I laid down on the dirty moldy cot and stared at the concrete ceiling.

“Your honor,” said Mr. Smith, “Like I said, Mr. Kelly did do something very stupid but everyone deserves a second chance. I don't believe in someone getting the book for the first time getting into trouble. He is a high school student that has a very bright future, he just made one bad decision.” Mr. Smith gradually sat back down in his old wooden chair. “That’s all your honor.”

“OK, thank you gentlemen,” said the judge. She looked at me. “What are you willing to do to take responsibility for your actions?”

“I think he,” Mr. Smith started but was quickly interrupted.

“I want Mr. Kelly to tell me what he thinks his punishment should be. So sit down and keep your mouth shut!” Mr. Smith was seated as Tyrone stood up.

“Your honor, I am very sorry for all that I did. I made a huge mistake, I possibly screwed up my future. With that said I believe my punishment should be community service and a fine. I'll let you decide how much time and how much money.”

The judge then turned and faced Tyrone. “ I sentence you to 200 hours community service that has to be done in a year and a 500$ fine. The bad news is you cant play football until the community service is done. The good news is you don’t have to serve any more jail time.” The judge then slammed his wooden mallet, and the court was adjourned.

At that point my life was beginning to take a turn for the better. Within the first week of my community service I met a girl named Katie she was in college and was working at a grocery store . We talked for a couple weeks, until one day I asked her to a date, it seemed she was really hesitant because of my past but I explained to her I learned from my mistakes, so she decided to take the chance.

It was a cold December night. The full moon was shining with great intensity as I drove to her house. I knocked on the door she was wearing a very nice expensive red dress, she looked amazing. I went up to and gave her a hug and asked if she was ready.

“Sure am,” said Katie We got in my car and headed to town which was only a couple mile drive from Katie's house.

“What do you feel like eating tonight”

“I am not sure maybe Mexican,”said Katie.

“Great I love Mexican we can go to LaFuente.” Which was a four star restaurant in our town. When we arrived at LaFuente we had to wait for 15 minutes just to get a seat. It was ridicules but this restaurant was always packed.

“We can find another restaurant if you want,” said Katie. And then out of no where I heard a man yell.

“Tyrone, table number 11.” We walked over to table 11 and had a seat. A young Hispanic man gave us a menu and asked what we wanted to drink.

“Pepsi,”said Katie.

“Ill take a Dr. Pepper.” And the man was off to get the drinks, we began on deciding what we wanted to eat.

“Here are your drinks”said the Hispanic man. “Are you two ready to order” Me and Katie looked at each other and noded.

“Ill take the taco bowl.” Said Katie.

“And ill take the beef fajita.” It took about forty five minutes for me and Katie to get and eat all our food. We left the restaurant and was on the way home, it was a quit ride home until Katie cleared her throat and said. “Thank you for a good night it was really fun we should do it again sometime.”

“Yea I had a lot of fun too, and I agree how about lets go out every Saturday from now on,” I said.

“Sounds like a plan,”Katie said before getting out of the car and going into her house. So I drove home and replayed all what happen that night in my head and then went to sleep.

I was really starting to like Katie so a couple months after I got out of high school I asked her to marry me.

“Well I don't know,” said Katie. “I’m still in college and don’t wanna get married right now but you are defiantly the guy I can spend the rest of my life with. Just wait until we are both out of college.”

I understood where Katie was coming from, wanting to finish school first and everything. But I just wanted to let her know I really liked her.

My high school days were gone. A couple weeks into my summer I got an email from Katie’s dad asking if I would be interested in playing football at a college he coaches with. It is a division two college in Iowa but it is better than not playing at all and I still would have the opportunity to play in the NFL which has been my dream all along. I told him I would love to join there football squad.

“Great,” said Dave Holmes “we are gonna love having you on our team. We know you have been in trouble with the law, but we know you are learning from your mistakes.”

So I ended up playing with them for four years and started three of those years.I broke the school record in rushing yards and touchdowns. I even got a chance to play in the NFL. So I took that chance and I play for the Minnesota Vikings and I donate one third of my check to the drivers against drunk drivers association every month. I also go around to high schools and talk about the importance of not to drink and drive and under age drinking.