This Could Have Been Your Child, Falsely Accused!

 My son, like many other children in the Mesquite and surrounding areas, attended an all night skating party at Westlake Skating Rink located off Gross Road on December 31, 2009.  My son ended the year with a bang, but on the morning of January 1, around 6 a.m., which was when the event ended, my son was dismayed, hurt, and embarrassed.

On Friday morning, January 1, 2010, my son was accused of being a lying and stealing.  Jason F, owner of Westlake Skating Rink accused my 13-year-old son of these appalling things.  These accusations were witness by other children who are residents of the Mesquite community.

My son and two of his friends attended the event together.  One of the friend’s parents picked up all three kids between 5:30 and 6 a.m. in 32 degree or below weather, and my son had on NO shoes!  After my son was dropped off, he came in the house explaining what happened and stated that he did not have his shoes because the key he had did not open his locker.  Another worker tried to help him open the locker, but the key did not work

The worker later told him he would have to get the shoes “tomorrow” when he checked the lockers.  After my son shared this with me, I immediately told him to put some shoes on and we were going back up to Westlake and get his shoes.  According to my son, he tried repeatedly to explain to the owner that the key he had was not opening the locker.  He said the owner just continued to talk to him in a not so friendly manner.  My son also stated that the owner said, “He must attend a Mesquite school because he keeps repeating himself!”  Another child confirmed that the owner made this statement.  Additionally, other students who attended the party witnessed the demeanor and harshness of Jason F, again, who is the owner. 

We drove back to the rink and I personally spoke with Jason.  Jason immediately started explaining and telling me that my “son was a liar and he put his shoes in the locker and didn’t lock it.”  Jason also stated, “He did not know where my son got the key and it did not belong to Westlake lockers.”  He continued to say my son was lying and many kids just place their shoes in the lockers without paying for the locker.  He stated that my son did not pay for the locker.  Jason also stated that someone had probably taken my son’s belongings because he did not pay for the locker.  However, my son knew he had paid to use the locker #399!

I told Jason I needed him to check the lockers because my son has some very expensive tennis shoes and that we needed to find them.  During our entire conversation Jason was loud and condescending to the point I had to ask him to please lower his tone.  All sorts of thoughts were going through my mind but the biggest of all was if he is talking to me like this, I could only imagine how he was talking to my son.  Jason proceeded to unlock the lockers under the agreement “if I open the locker and find nothing in them, you will owe me a $20 re-key fee.  I agreed and told him that was fine and I wanted my son’s tennis shoes.  In the meantime, while he was opening the lockers I had my son to apologize to Jason because he reported that my son was rude to him.  My son shook his hand with tears streaming down his face and apologized to this man who had called him a liar, a cheat and humiliated him in the mist of all of his school mates.

Shortly after unlocking the locker, which was something that could have been done at the onset, Jason found my sons shoes and hoodie.  We, Jason and I, learned that there were two keys with identical numbers of 399.  My son who stuck to facts had been telling the truth the entire time. 

My son began crying hysterically “saying I tried to tell him but he wouldn’t listen”  because he was hurt of how Jason had treated him and me like dirt, and the humiliated he had endured with everyone looking and hearing.  When Jason learned that my son was telling the truth, he became some what nicer.  By then he realized he had falsely accused my son and had been extremely rude to both of us.

Upon gathering my son’s belongings and leaving the rink, I told Jason “You owe us something for this!”  He gave my son a free pass to the skating rink, in which he wrote the date to expire as February 20, 2009.  The year 2009 is over. 

However, will a free pass really take away the hurt and pain he inflicted on my child?  Will a free pass to that skating ring take away the words he said about Mesquite schools?  I really don’t think so.

What Jason, owner of Westlake Skating Rink, didn’t realize was the child he talked so ugly and cruel to is the child of a Mesquite ISD educator.  What he also did not realize is that my son attends a Mesquite school an is enrolled in all Advanced classes, and since kindergarten has maintained A’s and B’s!

That night left many uneasy thoughts racing through my mind to mention a couple:

1)                  He has a business in the heart of Mesquite and to make the comment “You must attend a Mesquite school because you keep repeating yourself.”  What exactly was he trying to imply about students who attend Mesquite ISD when these same students are your patrons? 

2)                  If Jason addressed me, an adult as a second-class citizen, I can only imagine how he talked to my son when I was not there.  How many other “Mesquite” children has Jason treated this way? Better yet, will treat this way in the future?

My son was terribly hurt by the manner in which Jason owner of Westlake Skating Ring treated him.  My son stated that he would NEVER set foot in Westgate Skating Rink EVER again.

I am writing this editorial to release frustration and to make sure other parents in Mesquite and surrounding areas are aware of how this man has falsely accused a 13 year old.  It could be your child next time!

My children have attended Mesquite schools since kindergarten and they have experience great learning in this district.  I have also been an educator with the district for 8 years and have been happy with my employment.  I do not know what exactly Jason, owner of Westlake Skating Rink, was implying about Mesquite schools.  But, I do know that he will never receive another $1 from our household. 

This time it was my child, next time, it could be your child being falsely accused and humiliated!

Sincerely,

Fed Up With the Owner of Westlake

Skating Rink