The cousin fun just keeps on coming

I've gotten horribly off my sleep schedule the last few weeks - staying up late and sleeping late in the mornings. I was determined to ease myself back into a better sleep pattern before school starts back. Tonight, I had Elvis in his pajamas and sound asleep by 10:30. Not where we need to be but definitely better than the midnight mark we hit Monday night. I'd just gotten him settled in his bed, gotten my contacts out and myself into bed when my phone told me I had a text. It took me a few minutes to convince myself to look at it but I'm sooo glad I did. It was from Cousin It and no one from her family had come to pick her up from work. It was 10:39 PM and I live about 30 minutes from her job. I quickly put my contacts back in, hopped back into some semi-decent clothes, and headed out, texting Alli to listen for Elvis.

I got to her work in record time (@22 minutes) and there she sat, all alone at 11:12 PM on the bench in front of Cracker Barrel. I felt so sad for her (and a little scared, as if someone had tried to bother her, there would have been no one around to help). I feel so bad for her overall. She's 18, lives with her father and 21 year old sister. She, at 18, is the sole provider for her family. Neither of the others works. She just graduated from high school in May. She's passed up a scholarship to a good private college to stay home and attend a local community college. She'll continue to wait tables to pay the rent, car payment, and car repairs for her family. And to thank her, they'll leave her at work without a ride home. Something's wrong with that picture. I sure wish I had the ability to fix it but I don't. She's going to have to get fed up enough to change this situation. Until then, I'm afraid she's stuck. I'll continue to haul her when she calls me but that's all I know to do. God bless her. She's a neat kid, er, young lady now, I guess. She deserves so much better than what she gets.

She was very appreciative of the ride home. We chatted pleasantly over things like her job, my girls, and her college plans. She thanked me several times for coming to get her. She said she hated to bother me but she didn't know who else to call. I assured her it was okay to call me whenever she needed me and that my mom is will to help if she can't find me. I'm glad she feels comfortable enough to ask.

In the meantime, my planned bedtime of 11:00 has long since passed. So much for gradually going to bed earlier and waking up earlier. Tomorrow is my last day off. I guess I'll spend the first part of it in bed. I have to think it was for a good cause, though.