So, I was dating CP and my mother seemed to like him, especially since he got me out of the house. I really don’t think she liked me being around. I don’t know why. I wasn’t a pain in the ass. That was NOT sarcasm. I kept to myself and didn’t bother her. She taught me well. I truly was not a pain in the ass. 

Anyway, CP rarely had any money…..probably due to the fact that he couldn’t hold down a steady job for one reason or another. He once had a job at the newspaper office delivering papers and after just a few short weeks, he crashed one of their vehicles. He said it wasn’t his fault; that it was raining and the vehicle slid into a parked car. He was most likely driving too fast when this happened but to hear him talk, he wasn’t doing anything wrong at all. I heard several different versions of the same story from him and needless to say, he got fired.

When we went out we rarely did anything fun. We usually went to his uncle’s house or hung out with the cousins. This could be fun, don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the family! We occasionally went out to eat. Places like McDonald’s or Burger King, Subway or mooching at the uncle’s house were common eating spots. We went miniature golfing once for my birthday. It was fun I suppose, but I would have rather gone to the movies or something. We went to the drag races a few times, which I grew to enjoy. There was just something empowering about watching “The First Lady of Drag Racing” Ms. Shirley Muldowney, race that dragster for a quarter mile!

Eventually, after saving money from my job and cashing in a life insurance policy, I moved out on my own at the ripe old age of 20. Of course, my mother was all too happy to help! She helped me screen neighborhoods and apartments, and went with me to meet with landlords and check out potential apartments. When I decided which place I liked and signed the contract, Mom took me shopping to help me pick out the things I would need; things like cleaning supplies, soap, towels, washcloths, paper towels, toilet tissue, dishes, etc. She helped me get my phone (pre-cell phone era), electric and gas turned on. She helped me move my bedroom furniture into my new place, which was the only room in my new apartment that wasn’t already furnished.

Finally! A place of my own! I was now free to eat when I wanted, cook when I wanted, clean when I wanted. I could go out and not have to explain myself to anyone. I could go to bed at 3 in the freakin’ morning if I liked. Time for me to be an adult and I was all too happy to take on that responsibility!

My mom called me one day after I got home from work and told me CP was hanging out across the street from her house, in the park and barefooted. What the heck? He was moping she said, head hung low, looking like he had lost his best friend. Turns out he was jealous that I had a place of my own – still not sure why he was at the park across the street from her house. He had been living with his uncle up until then. Turns out the uncle kicked his ass out.

So, what did I do? I let him move in with me. I felt sorry for him, not having a place to stay. In retrospect, it was the dumbest thing I could have ever done. I’m pretty sure that’s what he had planned all along. He didn’t have a job, so the burden fell on me. He said, “I’ll get a job!” Well, he got a job with his uncle. They painted the exteriors of new homes and while he brought in some good cash for each job completed, the jobs were not steady, especially in the winter.

To Be Continued……

This is the second installment of a series. If you missed the first installment it can be found here: The Break-Up & The Concert