Our Island Family Life: Crowded House

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Crowded House

Posted by perphila at 10:05 AM

I spent the whole of yesterday afternoon in town dealing with my car. At one point I felt like crying. I had it jumped and went to go get gas just to make sure that wasn't the issue. I needed it to run at least half an hour so I decided to get it washed and fill my tire. I didn't want to run around on a low tire or just sit there. Well, the automatic machine for the car wash stole $10 from me. I went though anyway and grumbled knowing I would now have to go inside and talk to the clerk. My time wasn't up from running the battery yet so I decided to get air before I went in. The machine only took quarters. I keep coins in my car ashtray for times like these and parking meters but when I looked there was only nickels and dimes. Mildly annoyed I checked my wallet and saw Will and Connor had cleaned me out for bus money. Well, crap. I waited since I didn't want to go inside with the motor running. After half an hour I turned the car off and tried to start it like I was told. Zip. Nothing. I had to call AAA....again....in one day. I called and saw Cade's phone was almost out of minutes. There was maybe $1 worth left. I tried not to panic. I saw a pay phone. It said it took nickels and dimes but in reality it didn't so I had to use the cell and hope for the best. After being told I would have to wait 45 minutes. Again. I went inside and got a drink and a candy bar. It was 2:30 and I hadn't eaten since 8am. I told the clerk about the car wash and was given a number to call since they didn't own the darn thing. Fine. I got some quarters which I realized I should have just used for the pay phone and went to get air. I blamed my absentmindedness on panic and stress. AAA took 20 minutes longer than they told me, I was glared at by three people who wanted to use the air machine. Thank goodness I went there first and not the pumps for gas. No sympathy at all. In the end I didn't leave the gas station until 4:45 and just made the boat. On the upside the real problem was just the car battery. I have gas, no electrical problem, no starter problem and the alternator is good. A dead battery I can handle. They replaced it right there. I still had to fork over $120 but at least I had the money, I didn't need a tow, I don't have to spend the hundreds of dollars I was dreading and I have my car back to drive next week. I have to drive to the training place for the post office Monday and Tuesday so I was giddy with happiness. I wanted to sit there and start the car over and over again just to test the reality of it. Will called in the middle of the whole battery fiasco and asked to have friends over. I wasn't really paying much attention and agreed, not comprehending how many friends he meant, then the phone died. I knew Cade had a friend over. No problem. Connor also had a friend over. Ok. Will brought three. Six teenagers and two middle schoolers. All but Cade taller than me. Did I mention they eat a lot? Thank God for pasta. Everyone was well behaved though and they did all the dishes and cooking and even made cake. One of the friends was visiting from college. Times are moving fast.

On the bizarre side of the coin, I dropped Sofie off Friday to visit Sean. We took the 4pm ferry which gets in around 5:20 and Sean picks her up at 5:30. He has never once been on time. Sometimes I fear I will miss the 5:45 ferry home but he always seems to make by the skin of his teeth. Will and Connor were in town and were going to take the 5:45 ferry home with me. They knew Sean was coming and they usually go outside to not run into him around 5:15. When Sofie and I got there imagine my shock to see Sean there at 5:20 and talking to Connor. Will was even there. Sofie ran inside and went to Will instead of Sean and cried. She missed him and didn't want to go etc. etc. Sean didn't look pleased. Will hugged her and told her he missed her too, then gave her a treat. She thanked him but was still sniffing. She told Sean she didn't want to go. He bribed her with pizza but she said she didn't want to eat it. While she said good bye to me Sean turned to Will and said, "Hi Will, how are you doing?" Will completely ignored him. Then Sean and Sofie left. I looked at Will but before I could say anything his friend (who is one of the ones visiting) said, "Wow Will, that was cold." Then he laughed. Will said to me," He has been here about 15 minutes and he walked right past me, never looked at me and didn't once try and speak to me until you stood beside me. I'm not going to be used like that." His friends nodded and agreed what he did was certainly cold but well deserved. Connor even agreed. He was pissed how his dad had ignored Will and spoke only to him but he was also mad about a few things his dad had said to him. He asked about school and said he had heard Connor would be going to the school his wife teaches at next year. Connor snorted apparently and said, "No. Like hell I would. Who told you that?" Sean said it was a teacher at Connor's school. His crew leader. The one Connor has been having issues with all along and has been feeding info to Sean's wife because they are friends. The one Will despises. Connor told Sean the guy was nothing more than a liar. After that the conversation lagged. I wonder if the teacher really said that or if Sean is the liar? Sean suggested they go see a movie sometime. Connor shrugged. Sean had walked right past Connor too the first time and even left the bay lines entirely when he saw Sofie and I weren't there. Connor said he spoke back to his dad because he didn't want to be rude but Will wasn't the only one Sean ignored. Connor said he might not even bother if there is a next time. *sigh*

1 comments:

Carol said...: I could write a bunch of words here, but I think "Sean is despicable" would suffice. I find it hard to swallow that a teaching professional, regardless of friendship ties, and issues with a kid, would tell blatant lies like that....I think Sean is making it up.

And as far as the 6 bedroom house goes.....well....DH and I live in a 2 bedroom house that I/we can barely afford. But we are not behind in payments. There are a LOT of 6 bedroom houses that have been bought by people whose "eyes" were bigger than their wallets, and are empty now. Just because Sean can find some way to lie himself into that house, it doesn't mean that he's come by it honestly (you know he hasn't) or that he can continue that type of lifestyle indefinitely--it's just an extra manifestation of his bipolar!

But it's hard not to look at him and wonder how he gets away with all this stuff when you try to do everything right and honest, and things are so much harder....I have to keep telling myself things will get better eventually....maybe not THAT better, but maybe there won't be so many struggles....; April 9, 2011 at 5:14 AM