The first visit to the training school. I realized what a joke it all was. We were allowed to bring lunch or snacks with us. The bags and cooler was searched. We were told where the bathrooms were for the visitors and what were not allowed to do.

We were told to go through the backdoor and out to the picnic tables that were under the trees. And that they would be bringing the  kids that had visitors within a few minutes. Sitting at the tables we saw groups of kids walking to different areas of the school. All the kids were dressed in the same outfits of military fatigues and tee-shirts with combat boots.

When they brought Bobby up to the picnic area, he actually looked a lot better than I thought he would.  He was in an excellent mood. Said that he was having fun there.  He gave us a description of their days..... they got up at 4:30 am, showered, dressed, made their beds, then went to breakfast at 5:30.  They would then walk three miles, and the exercise for another hour. They would then have classes until lunch. And then more classes after lunch. Then for two hours after classes they would either clean the grounds or exercise some more. After dinner they would have a chance to play or watch a movie, until bedtime which was 9 pm.  The more he talked the more it sounded like Summer Camp.

He got counseling while he was there.  Not that they accomplished anything except give him someone to whine to about how unfair everyone was to him. And that he wasn't responsible for any of the things that he had done. It was always someone else's fault that he got into trouble.

He did very well in the training school. He did get into trouble several times for minor stuff. Usually being too mouthy or refusing to do something. Nothing was really punished for those. Push ups, or extra cleaning  time that was about it.

We knew it wasn't doing any good. It was a vacation for him. But most of all it gave us adults sometime to settle things in our lives.. It really was a peaceful time for us. We could live for a short time and not have the police or phone calls about something he had done wrong. We all got a taste of what life should be like. Normal was something I had never experienced.

Soon it become time for another court appearance to decide where he should go once released from training school. It was decided long before that he wouldn't go back to live with Tim and Dana, she wasn't going to allow a predator in her home ever again.  Which I had to agree with her. So Terry and I were going to get him back under our  roof again.  We had gotten married while Bobby was in training school. so now Terry had the right to be in the curt proceedings and voice an opinion.

Bobby was released in early October of 1996. He came to live with us. Terry and I agreed with the case worker to outline the rules and consequences for bad behavior.  Bobby signed a copy of this along with the rules of his probation.  He knew exactly  what would happen if any of the rules were broken or questioned. Again not that made any difference to him.