K2

A guest had to leave this morning. I had the former guest's stuff in the car, and when he returned I was gone on other errands. He called, and I said was on my way over.

He was on the porch when I got there, I knew he'd not come down if I motioned him to, so I made sure he could see me still in the driver's seat and I mouthed words to him like I was saying something.

Naturally, he came closer to hear. I said, "I've got your stuff in the car here, get in."

He yelled, "Why are you kicking me out?"

Me: I'll tell you in the car. *he gets in*

Former Guest, yelling: Why are you kicking me out?

Me: Because -

Former Guest, yelling: None of it is true, I didn't do anything! So why? Why?!

Me: Because -

Former Guest, yelling: You can't just kick me out, I didn't do nothing! So why'd you do this?

Me: You really want to know?

Former Guest, yelling: Yes!!

Me: Okay, but I'm only telling you because you're asking, not because I care to debate it!

Former Guest, yelling: What?!

Me: Drinking beer and smoking.

Former Guest, yelling: I haven't done none of that stuff! (I hadn't said K2, which he definitely had been smoking, but he's not asking why I'd be having him leave for smoking cigarettes. Kind of an admission, not like I need one.)

Me: I only told you as you asked, I said I didn't tell you so I could debate it.

Former Guest, yelling: But I've not been drinking, I swore it off!

Me: Okay.

Former Guest, yelling: You can't kick me out of I've not been drinking!

Me: You know, this would go easier if you'd stop yelling. I know you feel that it adds to your case, but it doesn't. It just makes it harder. You notice that I'm not yelling, and you hear me fine.

Former Guest: That's because you've not been kicked out of your house!

*me, pausing, remembering times I have been kicked out or greatly hurt*

Me: Okay, that's a fair point, you can keep yelling, it's okay. I'm sorry you're hurt by this.

*fast forward more conversations along the same lines, but an admission that some "K" had been smoked but that wasn't nothing, no worse than marijuana, but definitely no drinking

Former Guest: This isn't fair!

Me: Not about whether it's fair or just or whether you smoked this day or that day or that you're drinking -

Former Guest: Wasn't drinking!

Me: Okay. But it's about you not drinking or smoking at all, not for me, not for "fairness" or "justice" but just to stop hurting yourself.

Former Guest: You forgot to pack my blanket, can you go back and get my blanket?

Me: Yes.

*dropped him off at St. John's Breadline - his request - and went back to get his blanket. Drove back with his blanket. Took all of 10 minutes, tops. Saw him sitting in the grass drinking a tall 22 ounce can of beer.*

Me: What are you doing? I thought you swore off?

Former Guest: What'd you expect, you kicked me out!

Me: I think you should check into rehab like I said and try again with us in 30 days.

Former Guest: Leave me alone!

Me: I hope things go well for you.

*drove off*