Bruised, broken or worse, arrested, the first words out of a parent's mouth are: What were you thinking?

Sellers charge a premium for batches picked from older plants or, even better, from "wild tea" trees that have survived the deforestation that scars much of the region.

Many write letters expressing their admiration of him and some even proposing.

And this is happening at a time when states are cutting back in every category and, worse, have begun raiding funds intended to keep 911 centers fully staffed and well equipped.