At that moment, reality hit Beth hard―she had pushed the limits and crossed lines she never thought she would. Her heart felt like a stone, weighed down by the constant churn of stress and worry swirling around in her mind. Beth's reckless decisions had gotten out of control. Now, she had to deal with the consequences―with no mercy. It was going to be a tough lesson she will learn the hard way.
Beth: Mom, please, call Arlene and ask her to get my car from the superstore.
Mom: Yes, I will honey. Don't worry, me and your dad will have our attorney to help get you out.
Her mom could feel an ache in her heart and soul knowing the seriousness of the trouble Beth had gotten herself into. The family always said Beth was stubborn and hard-headed. Her ex-husband, John, always found himself amid altercations―constantly playing referee between her and an angry mob of people she'd manage to insult or piss off. Despite all the drama, she had somehow managed to avoid trouble and was never arrested or thrown in jail―until now.
Most of the time, it was just a warning or another chance to do better. But now, it felt like her streak of luck and privilege had finally hit a wall. Beth found herself between a rock and a hard place, with no one around to pull her out. Mrs. Callahan called the bank to report Beth's absence from work and contacted Arlene to ask for a favor. Arlene felt a pang of guilt and instantly apologized to her, sharing that Beth had contacted her earlier and then hung up on her.
Susan was grateful that Arlene agreed to help Beth regardless of their dispute. Arlene found herself in a tough spot. She and Beth were more than just friends―they were more like sisters, practically glued at the hip. But everything changed when Beth started acting entitled and treating people poorly, as if she held a higher status than them. Watching her best friend behave this way was heartbreaking, and it stung―especially since everyone thought Arlene was just as bad as Beth.
Many times, Arlene and Beth would find themselves sprinting to take cover, trying to escape a group of young adults itching to fight them over racial slurs Beth would throw around. Her behavior was partly shaped by her family and the people around her―others who also felt a sense of privilege while looking down on those who didn't fit the mold. There were no excuses because Beth decided to use her words like weapons and treat others poorly; she was an adult who knew better.
Eventually, Arlene had enough. They stopped hanging out and switched to an occasional text or a phone call a few times per month. Beth always promised to do better, but somehow, she'd end up slipping back into her old habits, often worse than before. Yet, on this particular day, Arlene felt a twinge of sympathy for Mrs. Callahan and everything she had to deal with. She offered to assist Susan with getting Beth's vehicle, watching the kids, and even helping to pay Beth's bail.