The last few weeks out in Beauxart Gardens has proven amusing. But, it’s finally over, and believe or not, the good guys won.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m referring to the inspiring saga between citizens standing up for their rights as human beings and American citizens and a local church. Makes a person proud to know that the Torch of Liberty is still burning, and that there are still many Americans who possess the independence that helped win the Revolutionary War.

Finally, in the face of the determined and noble bulwarks thrown up by the patriots in Beauxart Gardens, the church capitulated, announcing the cancellation of its plans to infect the community with foster children.

And who can blame the citizens? They are all decent people.

Stop and think about the ramifications from establishing a foster home in such an upscale community.

First, the church is introducing an undesirable element into the community, namely children from broken homes. Now, you know as well as I what follows. Families of the children will want to visit, and if the children are less than desirable, what about the family? They’ll drive into the community in broken down autos pumping out an oil smudge thicker than a winter fog. Who can blame a community for now wanting such eyesores parked in their neighborhood even for a few minutes? No one can blame them for their decision, for they are all decent people.

The second problem is the boys themselves. Undoubtedly an untold number of moms and dads have been sitting at the breakfast table the last few weeks discussing the dangers of five elementary boys associating with their own children. Just imagine the detrimental effect the boys could have on the children of the community. And what about riding the school bus? How do the conscientious citizens of the community know the foster kids don’t have some kind of contagious disease like pink eye, or lice, or scabbies? You can’t blame the parents. They’re all decent people.

After all, in the years to come, our communities will welcome the doctors, nurses, attorneys, and teachers who will come from that little Garden of Eden. Who knows, one of them might be a governor, or even the president. You can’t blame their parents for trying to prevent any obstacle from getting in their children’s way.

And if they hadn’t stood their ground, then who can say but ten years down the road, one of those ‘boys’ might have had the audacity, the impudence to want to date one of their daughters. Heaven forbid an abused and neglected boy thinking he’s good enough for one of their daughters. No, they’re doing what any decent parent would do.

Another factor just as important as keeping undesirables out of the community is the matter of property values. Sure, at present the brick house that was to be the home of the boys is clean and neat, but with five wild boys who are no better than juvenile delinquents, the place will be in shambles within a year. Then all of the hard work the good citizens of that Elysian community have done will be for nothing. Even the mobile homes will lose value.

From what I read, the project is being moved to Chester, up in the woods. That’s where those troublesome kids should be, in the woods where they can’t bother any decent citizens.

I guess the pastor learned his lesson. Next time God asks him to help little children, he’ll know one place not to go. 

But you know, a curious thought just hit me. Wouldn’t it be funny if that little fourth-grade boy no one wanted turned out to be Jesus?

Kent Conwell of Port Neches is an author and a retired educator. He can be reached at rconwell@gt.rr.com.