|
In May, a letter came from the Houston County Family Court. (Her October move took her to La Crescent, Minnesota, near her mom.) I was asked to submit to a DNA test to prove paternity. I got a ride from a friend in exchange for lunch, and the technician swabbed the insides of my cheeks. Kari was supposed to be there for her's and the baby's samples as well, but she called in sick. I don't suppose she wanted to take the chance of running into me. The technician said the results would be back in four-to-six weeks after receiving all the samples. Four-to-six weeks went by and I'd learned nothing. Then, in mid-July, I'd received a letter in the mail from the Houston County District Attorney. It was a 99.94% likelihood that I was the father, and I was asked to submit an income and expense statement to establish child support without having to go to court. What's strange (but not so strange) was that there was nothing in the packet of papers explaining my parental rights at all. I chose to not just give money away for a son I've never met. As of this writing, I am still awaiting a court date to establish custody and placement rights... we can settle the amount for child support due at that time. Just about everything else you know about what's happened since by reading here. I camped out in my apartment for two-and-a-half months this summer, but I've now had electricity for a week and my phone is being turned on today since receiving this week's paycheck. A friend of a friend has a cheap vehicle to sell, and I'm almost human again. Now all I have left is to settle a few accounts... file bankrupcy, establish child support for Dawson and hopefully get to meet my son... then I'm back to northeast Wisconsin to be near the one person who needs me most, my daughter. Get on the sub list there for the rest of the year and, if my name isn't completely trashed, maybe start teaching full-time next year and do so until I retire. Here's hoping.... |