Dad's Arrest

One week ago, I received a phone call from my father. He was very upset and wanted me to know that he may be arrested. He was telling me about my stepsister and her husband's fight. I don't know the entire details on what occurred or what lead to the domestic argument she had with him. I only know that she went to Dad with this problem and he, being the dad he always has been, got involved and as a result threatened to kick her husband's ass. He is known as an awesome man. One the great guys with work ethic and family values. Everyone in town knows him as Spinner and they all welcome him when he walks into any environment. He is known to care and help in every way he knows how. He does have a temper from time to time. He is older now and does not like to see the ones he loves hurt in anyway. His instinct kicks in and he protects the ones he loves.
My stepsister's husband actually went ahead and pressed charges on my dad. He has known my dad and been a part of the family for a very long time. My disbelief here is in the fact that he went and actually pressed charges on my 83-year-old father who he knows. My father has a shake and has had heart surgery and for obvious reasons has slowed physically. My father has no priors and is not in any way a punk or villain. I felt very twisted up in anger myself when I was told, he was put in cuffs, brought to Manchester and strip searched before being placed behind bars. Before I go further into this, let me add my stepsister's husband replied to my father's empty threat. I was informed that his reply was extremely harsh and to find out after he said that he still pressed charges. "You can come kick my ass; just remember I carry a gun."
I decided to be strong for Dad. I took a deep breath and remained as calm as I could hoping to keep my stepmom and my dad calmer. I didn't want to go off verbally and add fuel to this fire. Without saying too much, I put on my shoes and went to the station to bail my dad out of jail. They were nice to me, and the wait was not too long at all. In fact, I showed up before they were even there with my dad. I wanted to assure he was out as soon as possible.
When they brought my dad out to me, the look on his face was in the worst way memorable, and I felt his fear. He looked traumatized in the most literal sense I can say it. "They made me take off my clothes, the toilet is steel and there is no toilet paper. It is so cold in there and they made me take off my clothes Loretta. I will never do that again I will tell you that."
I gave him a hug. "Let's get you home to your wife where you belong dad."
On the way back to his house I wanted to say a lot. I wanted to go off about being mad and how I hated that he got caught up in this mess and went to jail for it. I knew in my heart that he was already paying with fear for what took place, and I didn't want to put him through anymore. I instead receded with these words. "Dad, this is the America we now live in. You can't say things and not be brought to your knees. I am sorry that our generations after you have allowed this to happen, and I wish so bad it wasn't the way this life is now. I do want to say one more thing about all of this mess. I just want you to know, this is the reason why every time I went through things in my life, I never told you until I had already gone through it. I never wanted to be the reason you went through this."
Dad rubbed my arm and answered me almost driving tears to my eyes. "I love you Loretta and I am so happy that I have you in my life."
I brough Dad into the house and listened to them talk about the night's events. When I felt that they were relaxed enough I went home and vented my anger.
I am still angry. I would never go to Dad with events like that. I know he is a parent and his way of dealing with these things just don't fit into the system anymore. It is ridiculous. The whole story is just ridiculous. The fact that I will be bringing my 83-year-old father to court because he threatened his son in law with an ass whooping, is ridiculous.