The first time Princess was locked up in juvenile, she was excited about her room. This was the first time in her life that she had her own room and there was a sink in it. Princess has always slept in the living room. Her first home had 5 of them in it (mom, mom's longterm boyfriend and her twin sisters with her). Soon after a nephew was added to the mix and often the family opened their home to other relatives, an aunt, or homeless people they would run into. Her next home had more space, but she was so used to sleeping in the living room, she had a hard time taking a room for herself, besides her sister was going to come out of the juvenile system at some point and she wanted the room for her and her sister's son.
In a lot of ways, I think Princess wants to follow in her older sister's footsteps. Shonique is beautiful, articulate, socially embraced and the poster child of the juvenile system (not literally, but in every other sense). She too was incarcerated here in Abilene, then sent to long term in Abilene, then sent to TYC. They even gave testimony saying that Princess had told the authorities here, "I don't care *#@!, send me to TYC". Her main problem is that she won't admit to the wrongs she does. She blames it on everyone and everything else. She learned this from her mom, who continues to blame Princess' behavior on her ADD medicine. It's all that medicine's fault! They also want to have more evaluations done on Princess to find out what psychological problems she has (as if she doesn't have enough labels emblazoned on her file).
During our last visit, Princess said she hoped that she would be sent to the same facility her sister was at, have the same probation officer and maybe even stay in the same room. During the trial, Princess took the stand and asked that the courts allow her to leave with her sister for a week to see how she would do there. Her lawyer called her sister to the stand, who testified with tears that she couldn't take care of her sister (she is 17, has a job and 2 kids), that Princess won't listen to her and needs to go to TYC. This practically made the lawyers and judge do cartwheels. They all verbally praised Shonique and gave her plenty of affirmation, saying how wonderful she was and honest and mature. The last words said in court were to Princess, that she would go to TYC and if she worked hard, she could turn out to be just like her (wonderful) sister.
I haven't figured out all my emotions in this, but something in all that was horribly wrong. I wish for once Princess got the kind of positive attention her sister gets. I wish people would see her for who she is in her beauty and intelligence and not just in the shadow of her sister or in light of all her problems and record and misbehaviors. I pray the Lord will bring about deliverance, healing and freedom to this trapped soul, so that she can become all that she is meant to be. Those the Son sets free will be free indeed!
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