Emotional Eclipse 

There’s one sad truth in life I’ve found
While journeying east and west –
The only folks we really wound
Are those we love the best.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best. ~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Levi Hall did not have a shining example of Fatherhood. His own Dad is on the run, so to speak, for back child support from his Mother Joyce.

When Christine Sheddy was eight months pregnant with their first son Isaac she got a call one afternoon. Some girl Levi met in a convenience store in Rehoboth he was courting in lieu of stocking up on pampers or baby furniture had found Christine’s number. Levi had told her that he and Christine had broken up some time ago. Christine got the name of the restaraunt and the time they would be there.

Imagine Loverboy Levi’s surprise when Christine and her baby bump plop down at the table and start eating the crackers.

My heart sank when I was told that story. On one hand I enjoyed the visual of Christine inflicting the temporary sucker punch. On the other, I wished I could put her in my pocket and protect her for what was to come. I have interviewed many women that have been in abusive relationships for this case. There are no shortages of accounts from those ladies that end with my jaw gaping open. The difference is, they are alive to tell me about them.

Following the birth of their second son, Zeke, the train that was the relationship between Levi and Christine spent more time off the tracks then on. With a toddler and a 3 month old, Christine writes this to Levi’s Mother Joyce:

Hey Joyce it’s me. I also sent a resume to Comcast for a job. And put Kristen as my refrence. Her last paycheck after taxes was $3,500 for 2 weeks. So I can’t beat that job either. At least I can have a job while I take these classes and keep this job till I get a better paying job after school. I am going to be so mad if Levi goes to that music festival and I can’t go. Peggy and Lea want me to go and I really want to go to. Levi is going to the bike show this weekend as well. I think I might wait for him to get home Friday and just leave him with the kids. Yeah right! I am so desperate to go out that it is pathetic. I haven’t gotten to anything in such a long time. I told Levi that I wanted to go with him. I’m going to try and find a babysitter, that way if he does go and thinks that I can’t go I can spot him there and see who he’s with. Or we can run into eachother and pick eachother up. That would be fun. Well gotta go

Christine

This goes on through the family living with Levi’s Dad, Joyce, themselves, and finally grinds down around June 2006. Christine, Isaac and Zeke move back to the Dodenhoff’s home on the bay until that fateful November 1, 2007. Nothing would please me more than to say that Christine and Levi had parted ways for good this time. Christine sent this to Levi in August.

Levi moved in with new girlfriend Angie and did not see or speak to his kids until October, when Levi told Christine he had a game plan for their future this time.

Christine nursed Isaac following minor surgery. She asked Levi to get the kids clothes out of storage as she could not afford to buy any. She asked him for nominal support for the kids. He got lap dances and played pool.

Christine built Haylie, Zeke and Isaac a playhouse by herself.

Enter Pocomoke City and Levi’s new friends that live on a 67 acre farm.