Entry 24: Thanks, AM Staff

The two shifts change at 2pm. The AM staff is supposed to give all the important information to the afternoon staff when they arrive. This is what we call the Crossover, and the kids are supposed to be waiting in their rooms during this transition.

I pulled in at two o'clock to see Stevie, a nine-year-old Native American sitting on top of the roof. This wasn't all that uncommon for Stevie, but it annoyed me because I knew that the AM staff was just going to leave once all the PM staff came in without finding resolution to Stevie's problem.

Stevie never really needed a reason to get up on the roof or climb up a tree. This is what we call "holding the house hostage." It's a very useful technique to learn for all you messed up kids out there. If there's an outing or activity that some of the kids are going to get to do but not you because of earlier screw-ups, just climb a tree and threaten to jump. Now the staff will give you all the attention you deserve and nobody will get to go on the outing.

I asked what had happened to Stevie and why had he gotten so upset. One of the AM regulars, Tommy said, "Well it looks like Stevie's gonna give you the Crossover himself."

I looked up to see that Stevie had taken off his pants and was taking a shit down one of the air vents.