Late-night Guitar Hero Emergency

Will went to Meridian with friends after church. There isn't much showing at the small theater but they don't need much of an excuse to get out of the house.

Around 9:30, the phone rang. My son. Late night calls are always cause for alarm when the teenager is out with friends. Is he OK? Is the family vehicle OK? Does he need money?

"Hi, Mom"

"Hi"

"Are you awake?"

"Yes" (duh)

"Jason M. is coming over in a minute."

"Ok"

Jason is my "adopted" son - a couple of years younger than Will. They are both in high school band, same Boy Scout troop , etc. Jason is a big, sweet teddy bear of a boy in ragged jeans and a bad haircut. I always get a hug from him (usually two or three). Jason missed church because he is staying over at a friend's house. Plans include paint ball and squirrel hunting. All night.

"Jason needs an extra controller for Guitar Hero. I told him that he could use one of mine."

"Ok"

"He should be coming down the driveway in a minute."

"Ok. Does he know where to find it?" Will's room looks like a Chinese laundry exploded. The room only gets cleaned when Dad happens to go upstairs and sees the squalor. The fake electric guitar is somewhere under school uniforms, dirty soccer shorts, tennis rackets, and gaming magazines. No way am I looking for it.

"I told him to look under the TV" (That's only about 18" down)

"Ok. I'll open the door for him."

I quickly check the living room for stray socks or dirty dishes. Within a couple of minutes, headlights appear on the hill. Don't think that Lucky even barks at the pickup truck. I turn on the porch light as Jason walks up to the door in worn T-shirt and camo print pajama bottoms. After the obligatory hug, he goes upstairs to dig for the controller. He knows exactly where to find it under Will's blankets and dirty underwear. I get a second hug and a thank you and then he is gone. Just another late night Guitar Hero emergency.