Lonely Mom Sends Her Naughty Son to the Police Station, He Returns with a Medal – Story of the Day

Diane didn't know what to do when her son, Wayne, started to get into trouble at school and hung out with a sketchy group of kids his age. But when he did something illegal, she took action and took him to the police station to show him something that would astound him.

"Mrs. Dennison, if Wayne doesn't get his act together, he is going to fail his sophomore year. Not to mention, this current stunt at the local grocery store is practically illegal," Principal Mullins told Diane during a meeting he requested.

Her son, Wayne, had recently gotten into serious trouble by breaking the windows of a grocery store in Warren County, Pennsylvania. The cops were lenient on him because they had known Diane's husband, Colin, who died years ago.

However, the school's principal called her to an urgent meeting, to inform her that Wayne had been hanging out with a group of kids who didn't follow the rules, skipped class often, and misbehaved in school. Diane had no idea what to do.

"Your father was beloved in our town. Loved... and I never told you how he died because I felt you were too young."

Diane raised her arms with her palms up in exasperation. "I have no clue what to do with him. He lost his father so early. Colin was his rock and the only man Wayne trusted, Principal Mullins. I can't… I'm so lost," she expressed, her eyes watering in desperation.

"Mrs. Dennison, you're his mother. You have set him straight or he could go off the rails. Can you imagine if he becomes the opposite of his father? We all loved Officer Dennison. You're right. He was a rock, not just for your son but for the community," the principal explained. "You need to show him something that will shock him straight. That's what I believe. When I was young and rebellious, my mother took me to my grandfather's grave. He served in 'Nam and saved many men. From then on, I stopped rebelling."

Diane looked into Principal Mullins' eyes, and an idea popped into her head. She jumped from the chair and smiled at him. "That's it! I know what to do. I hope it works for us too. Thank you, Principal Mullins."

Diane exited the office and saw her son sitting – more like sulking – in a chair. He was upset at her being at school and finding out about his shenanigans. "Let's go, Wayne," she stated firmly and walked ahead, expecting him to follow.

"Mom," he whined.

"I don't want to hear it. You're coming with me. We have somewhere to be," she interrupted and continued toward her car in the parking lot.

They were quiet during the ride, and Diane thought it was better. Let him stew and worry about what she was going to do. Maybe he'll feel some guilt about his recent actions, she thought while driving quickly to a special place.

"Why are we at the police station?" the teenager demanded when Diane parked the car and opened the door. "MOM!"

"Get out right now," she demanded forcefully.

"Mom, you can't have me arrested. Are you crazy? They won't allow it! They all love me!" Wayne objected, whining as he exited the car, but he was scared.

"You've never been here, right?" she asked, her face completely stoic.

"I don't think so…," Wayne replied, confused.

"Come on, then," she insisted, her tone getting calmer. Everyone knew their family at this police station. Her husband was loved just like Principal Mullins had stated, but they hadn't been here in a long time. Regardless, people were happy to see them and greeted them with bright smiles.

"Mrs. Dennison!"

"Wayne, my boy! You're so big!"

"So glad to see you guys here!"

Diane kept walking until they reached a part of the wall at the station and pointed it out to Wayne. "This… is your legacy, Wayne," she told him calmly.

The teenager's eyes went to the wall, and his jaw dropped at the number of pictures of his father. He was with friends at the station. One photo showed him in uniform, and some of them even showed him in action.

"Your father was beloved in our town. Loved. People looked up to him, even in a time when some folks didn't trust authority. He had everyone's trust…and long ago, we lost him," Diane started and took a deep breath. "And I never told you how he died because I felt you were too young."

"He died in action, right?" Wayne asked, his eyes still focused on the pictures.

"Yes, but it wasn't some great action. He was killed by a random robber at the liquor store. A random criminal who decided to just take his life away. A criminal who was rebellious at school and got into a very bad crowd later on. He killed your father without a second thought and changed our lives forever," she explained, turning to her son and seeing his shocked face.

"I… I thought it was during a police operation," he added.

Diane shook her head. "He was off-duty already and picking up something to drink for dinner. And he was gone. Just like that... I'm afraid you're going down a dangerous path now, Wayne. Don't get me wrong. You're not a criminal… yet. Although what you did at the grocery store is just the beginning. And the people you're hanging with…honey, those are not good kids. They're not 'cool kids' either. No matter what they tell you. If they made you commit what you did at the store, they are not your friends."

"I… that was just a mistake, Mom."

"A mistake that could turn into something worse. The cops were lenient because they love you too. But they won't be lenient if things escalate, and I don't want to see you become a person that your father would be disappointed in."

Diane guided Wayne's eyes to something next to the pictures of her father. "This is a medal your dad received during his service. It was a ceremony just a few months before he died. For his service. For his bravery."

"He got a medal?" the teenager asked in awe, staring at the medal that was safely kept in a frame and hanging on the wall. Diane felt her chest warm. Her kid was finally showing signs of the person he used to be before this rebellion.

"Yes, and the people here have many stories about your dad if you want to ask them." She pointed her finger at the station, and the boy pursed his lips.

"Do you think I could take the medal home? Shouldn’t it be with us?"

"We can certainly inquire. I never thought to ask."

They asked around the station about taking the medal, and the chief was only too glad to give it to them. Wayne hugged the frame with the award to his chest and stared at it all the way home. Diane knew right then that her son had woken up.

What can we learn from this story?

• Some kids need a wake-up call before their rebellion turns into something dangerous. Diane showed Wayne what kind of person his father was and how his recent actions could have grave consequences, and the teenager changed as a result.
• Other people's experiences can inspire you in the best ways, so it's always important to listen. Diane got the idea to show Wayne the wall of pictures from Principal Mullins' experience with rebellion in his youth. Her meeting with him was vital and helped her immensely.

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This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.