Warning: This is venting so you may or may not want to read any further.
Any of you that have been reading my blog know I have been playing Taxi to one of my neighbors. Any time they wanted to go to town or to the city south of us, they paid me to drive them there and usually back again. I didn't mind doing this most of the time as I like to help people out, and because they paid the gas as well as some on top of that for my time and that money really came in handy, especially when I had to repair my pellet stove. They also came here often to borrow my phone.
Tuesday this week, Robert came down to borrow the phone again. I told him I was getting ready to go to the Doctor, so make it fast. As he was on the phone I overheard him say "my neighbor is taking me to look at it" and "okay, I'll go up to the house and get that number. I'll call you back in about 15 minutes". So when he hung up I told him I wouldn't be here for him to use the phone as I was going to the doctor. He was not happy. He wanted to borrow my cell phone to take home with him so he could call the guy back, and he'd bring it back when I got home that evening. NOT!!! So he starts crying the blues. I ended up driving him up to his place and letting him use my cell to call the guy back. He said he'd pay me for the call... he hasn't. I was late for my appointment. I was really angry with him, but especially with myself for not putting up boundaries and standing by them. I should have just said "this is not my problem" and been done with it.
Tuesday evening his wife Tina came down. She asked if I'd drive her to town as she was out of milk and her 5 year old daughter needed milk. She said she didn't have the money to pay me for the trip tonight, but was getting paid tomorrow (Wednesday) and would pay me then. I said okay. At the store she got milk and tobacco, having to count coins to pay for it all.
Wednesday, he came down to use the phone again. I was getting ready to go to song rehearsal and told him that. He asked could he get me to drop him off downtown, so okay. Off we go and when I turned right he says "can we go in the other way? I need to go to that part of town". I told him "no. I told you, I have an appointment that I can't be late for". He was not happy. So then he wanted me to drive him to Safeway. I said no. I'd drop him at the race track as that was the way I was going. I also pointed out that they owe me for the trip last night. He got more unhappy. The original calls she made when she came to borrow the phone were to the taxi. It cost them $20 one way for the taxi, so I said for $20 I'd drive them to town and back again. That was the deal and that is what they paid, now he's mad that I want that much. He said that if I'd drive him to his bank he'd pay me, but seeing as I was not going to do that "I guess you'll just have to wait for your money". So I said "I guess I'll just have to wait then" as if it was no big deal. He didn't talk to me the rest of the drive, he is usually very chatty. I dropped him off at the race track and have not seen or heard from them since.
I don't know if I'll get my money for that trip or not, but if not that's okay. It was worth the money to get rid of them. He has been starting to act like I owe them. I owe them nothing. He's started to try to run my life, getting upset when I have my own stuff to do when he wants something from me. I've been in abusive relationships before and I do not intend to be in another one, and I can see that this behavior is that of an abuser. I refuse to go there with someone I sleep with or am in love with, so I sure as heck won't go there with a neighbor who I am not attached to in any way.
So if they come back, and I'm sure they will when they want something, I am not going to let them use the phone again, or drive them anywhere, even if I'm driving right past where they want to go. He blew it for the whole family. The only exception to this would be if the little girl was hurt and Tina needed to call 911 or a taxi to take her to the hospital. Two of my friends think that most of these trips I've driven them on were drug related, even though they had plausible explanations for why they had to go. I am beginning to think they could be right, so it is best to "get while the getting's good". As innocent as I would be (not involved in anything drug related), I could still be charged with drug crimes for being unknowingly involved. Or if this guy pulls something on a dealer the dealer could include me in the payback. Either way, not a good thing at all. I am happy to be out of business as the local taxi. No more being dragged out of my home when I want to stay here for a quiet evening, etc.
5 comments:
Take care of yourself sweets. Sending many loving vibrations your way.
Katie - Thank you so much. I always can use those loving vibrations :o) I'm sending some back at you.
you seem to me to be a very kind and caring person, they are taking advantage and being mean. you be careful of them, thats not the sort of thing you need in your life!!
Claire... thank you my dear friend. I will be careful. I am a "softy" in many ways and do care very much about other people. I like to help where I can as I was helped by others in the past. That being said, I am also pretty good at taking care of myself. I've had to do so most of my life. If he comes here again, he won't get inside the house. If she comes down I may let her in, I'm not sure yet. One thing I am sure of is that "it's over". The fat lady is singing like a bird. Hahaha.
Oh, by the way, don't forget Reba. She is very friendly, almost too friendly, and they know her a bit so they know how much of a suck she is. HOWEVER... she is a Rottweiler through and through. She though one time when she was still small, that I was in trouble with a full size horse, so she started barking and backed the horse away from me and wouldn't let it back for some time. I have little to no doubt that if anyone was to get nasty with me, she would step up and protect me.
Thanks for caring!
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