The past is in the past, and if you want me to know what you are like, show me, don't tell me. That's what my roommate and I told the 22 year old kid from Paris who is staying with us for a few days when we found out he has been lying about his circumstances.
She brought him home a couple days ago. I came home from work and she said he would be the roommate of a friend of hers when she came back from vacation in about 10 days, he is from her city, and he would stay with us until then. I said ok.
My roommate is pretty sharp. It only took her two days to find out his mother didn't die in september, and he didn't arrive in miami the morning she met him. She also doesn't pull any punches. She had him crying pretty quickly. Since they were speaking french, I only had a general idea of what they were talking about, but I could tell he wasn't being abused, just confronted with the truth.
We had a day off together yesterday. Spent the day going 170 blocks north for a picinic on the bus. It was too cold for the beach, though we toughed it out for about 20 minutes. Shopped for flip-flops, and people -watched at a starbucks on Lincoln road. I really like having a partner without the complications of sexual intimacy. We are emotionally intimate. Except for the lack of sex, it's like a good marriage.
Most of the people on south beach are children, no matter how old they are. It makes for interesting times. Being an old man, I like the energy, and the easy comraderie. Since I am usually in bed by 10 or 11, I don't get into the life-draining habits like I did before, and like I see so many others still doing. I like waking up at seven or so, with no hangover and money in my pocket, having my coffee, and walking a mile to work on quiet streets.
No matter where you go, there you are (in the immortal words of Buckaroo Bonzai). You take your issues with you, and the flip-side is if you have some peace, you can live in a crazy place without being crazy. Me, I'm here to buy a boat, but I really enjoy watching the show. I love to watch people, and I love to talk to them. There are quite a few unusual people here. And you never really know what is true, and what is fiction. But if you don't open your wallet or your home, it doesn't really matter.
That's sort of the problem with this kid. My roommate brought him into our home. I don't have much, but I do have a couple things that could be pawned that I don't really want to lose. And really, it wouldn't be the loss of the thing, my "things" mostly have emotional significance to me. I don't want to experience the loss, or live with the suspicion if anything disappeared. I don't like having to guard anything.
But he hasn't stolen so far, except for eating some of my peanuts, and drinking some of her soda, and we confronted this. She was all over him tonight, and I hope he is mature enough to learn from it. I didn't really learn about taking care of myself until this year. He would be way ahead of the game if he got it. Anyway, for sure he's not going to have a roommate in a few days, or a place to stay for that matter, if he doesn't show some rudamentry improvement immediately.
Going 17 miles north was like being on vacation. We were in florida vacationland, far away from anything south beach, and it only cost two bucks to get there. I finally had a key made for my truck, but after three months, the battery is dead. I'll get it going soon, and maybe fix some other stuff on it that needs fixing. I've been looking for a hobbie.
The weather is pleasant. Life is good.
No comments:
Post a Comment