The Good Life – September-October 2018

As it turns out, two years prior his roommate had
taken his sister’s car, gotten drunk, crashed
it and left the scene of the crime. Law
enforcement traced it back to Dort’s
mother’s house and caught his
friend red-handed. Because of
his previous record, the friend
gave Dort’s name as his own.
For whatever reason, Dort allowed it,
paid the fees, performed community service and went to
alcohol evaluation. Just when he thought he had paid his
(friend’s) dues, he was pulled over on his 20th birthday and
arrested on a warrant for a hit and run – dating back to the
original incident.
"I spent three to four days in jail,” Dort said. “Where was
the friend who was supposed to bail me out? Nowhere to
be found.”
Thankfully, his girlfriend at the time, Mb (short for Mbang),
came to the rescue. His future bride knew he was struggling
and living on the street, but she never knew the full extent
of his story.
“I ended up telling her everything. I feel like God was
preparing me by clearing the air of everything I did," he said.
"I think it helped me keep her. Because she didn't know the
person that was about to come out.”
Pedaling Toward Success
Even in Haiti, Dort started cutting hair at just 8 or 9 years
old, so when he was looking for change, Mb helped him
take the next step.
"Man, she's an angel,” he said. “She got me into barber
school.”
Throughout school, he was still attending court for his
charges. One day, he left school and didn’t return.
Unbenounced to him, Dort’s lawyer showed up late to court
to inform him of the plea deal he had accepted without
Dort’s knowledge on his behalf. He was sentenced to nine
months in jail and was booked that day.
Worse yet? As a convicted felon, his financial aid would be
cut off.
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 21