30 Days Notice
Yesterday when I went home for lunch, I snapped. Why? Because The Parents were cooking and eating. Even if they'd immediately started cleaning up the kitchen at that moment, there wouldn't have been enough time for them to clean, me to cook lunch, eat, clean up and get back to work in under one hour. So I left. Furious.
When I got home after work, The Mother cornered me in the kitchen and asked if I was going to kick her out. I guess she could tell I had been angry. I smiled sadly at her, and said, "I *REALLY* need to speak with Steamroller about this." She pressed, I side-stepped answering. It was a nice dance. I don't think it's fair to force me into being the bad guy who has to tell people they have to leave. That's the Steamroller's job.
I left the house, and returned two and a half hours later. Less than ten minutes after arriving at home, The Mother knocks on my door.
For more than twenty minutes she was standing in my bedroom begging to stay, clutching my arm so tightly that eventually, my fingers started tingling. She said that they would give me money for all the extra water and electricity they were using. I kept repeating two phrases:
I was very uncomfortable. And not just because I was in my pajamas. I reiterated that this was not personal, that I liked The Mother very much, but quite simply, Steamroller and I agreed on ONE week, and we're now in Week Four. I explained how I was feeling taken advantage of, what with Steamroller's boyfriend being there every night, sometimes even when Steamroller herself wasn't home, and then he left, and Steamroller promptly brought her parents in. I explained how when I'd put up an ad for a roommate, it was for ONE roommate. Not one roommate and a boyfriend and some parents.
The Mother said "But hotel is very expensive for us." I sweetly pointed out that a hotel is very expensive for everyone who needs to stay in one, but that's part of planning a big trip. I explained that though she may not realize, I was sure Steamroller with her five - six years of experience living in the U.S. realizes that it's a huge imposition on a roommate to have parents in a two bedroom apartment. The Mother admitted finally that they were wrong and I was right. But please, could she stay?
It's clear where Steamroller gets her steamrollerness from. I was ready to say yes just so The Mother would let go of my arm. But no. I didn't even know what I was considering agreeing to.
THAT'S A MONTH AND A HALF! FUCK NO!
Finally I told The Mother, just to get her out of my room, that I'd think about it. What else could I say? I didn't want to have to be the bad guy. I locked my bedroom door last night before going to sleep.
This morning at 8:35 a.m. Steamroller knocked on the door. I asked her what was going on. I told her how upset I was. I told her I knew she lied to me last week when she called, saying she'd been locked out of the apartment when really it had been her mother. She said she knew I wouldn't mind letting her mother in. She's right - I didn't. I wouldn't want my mother stuck standing outside my apartment door either. But I do mind being lied to.
This is when Steamroller started crying. She told me she wants her dad to stay until October 2nd, and her mom to stay through the 16th. I told Steamroller The Mother had told me she was quitting her job, is that true? No, she just wants to. I told the Steamroller that since her parents were here for one month, they would pay three quarters of the rent.
Steamroller got very upset and told me she'll start looking for a new apartment this week. She left my room.
I went to the hallway and was waiting for the elevator when I heard screaming, and then the door to our apartment opened. The Mother angrily asked me to come back inside.
"Why did you make this all Steamroller's fault?"
I don't know what exactly came out of my mouth, though it may have been "Excuse me?"
All hell broke loose. I became scared The Mother was going to hit me. Steamroller yelled at her to go back in her bedroom. There was yelling in another language. The Father was pulling The Mother by the arm.
Steamroller shoved The Mother into the bedroom and shut the door. She apologized, waving her mother off, saying she's crazy, don't listen to her. Steamroller hugged me. The Mother came back out of the bedroom and screamed at me that I'm "no kind of roommate." Again, the same pulling and shoving back into the bedroom happened.
I left for work. Scared to be leaving this woman who so clearly hates me in my apartment with all my furniture. Got an e-mail from Steamroller again apologizing and giving me 30 days notice, saying she'll pay rent in October.
I'm scared to go home. I'm scared not to BE at home. I'm just scared, and equating home with fear, and that's never a good thing.
When I got home after work, The Mother cornered me in the kitchen and asked if I was going to kick her out. I guess she could tell I had been angry. I smiled sadly at her, and said, "I *REALLY* need to speak with Steamroller about this." She pressed, I side-stepped answering. It was a nice dance. I don't think it's fair to force me into being the bad guy who has to tell people they have to leave. That's the Steamroller's job.
I left the house, and returned two and a half hours later. Less than ten minutes after arriving at home, The Mother knocks on my door.
For more than twenty minutes she was standing in my bedroom begging to stay, clutching my arm so tightly that eventually, my fingers started tingling. She said that they would give me money for all the extra water and electricity they were using. I kept repeating two phrases:
I really need to speak with Steamroller.
I really can't discuss this with you, it's not fair that either of us have been put in this position.
I was very uncomfortable. And not just because I was in my pajamas. I reiterated that this was not personal, that I liked The Mother very much, but quite simply, Steamroller and I agreed on ONE week, and we're now in Week Four. I explained how I was feeling taken advantage of, what with Steamroller's boyfriend being there every night, sometimes even when Steamroller herself wasn't home, and then he left, and Steamroller promptly brought her parents in. I explained how when I'd put up an ad for a roommate, it was for ONE roommate. Not one roommate and a boyfriend and some parents.
The Mother said "But hotel is very expensive for us." I sweetly pointed out that a hotel is very expensive for everyone who needs to stay in one, but that's part of planning a big trip. I explained that though she may not realize, I was sure Steamroller with her five - six years of experience living in the U.S. realizes that it's a huge imposition on a roommate to have parents in a two bedroom apartment. The Mother admitted finally that they were wrong and I was right. But please, could she stay?
It's clear where Steamroller gets her steamrollerness from. I was ready to say yes just so The Mother would let go of my arm. But no. I didn't even know what I was considering agreeing to.
"How long are you asking to stay?"
"Until October 16th, when Steamroller quits her job."
THAT'S A MONTH AND A HALF! FUCK NO!
Finally I told The Mother, just to get her out of my room, that I'd think about it. What else could I say? I didn't want to have to be the bad guy. I locked my bedroom door last night before going to sleep.
This morning at 8:35 a.m. Steamroller knocked on the door. I asked her what was going on. I told her how upset I was. I told her I knew she lied to me last week when she called, saying she'd been locked out of the apartment when really it had been her mother. She said she knew I wouldn't mind letting her mother in. She's right - I didn't. I wouldn't want my mother stuck standing outside my apartment door either. But I do mind being lied to.
This is when Steamroller started crying. She told me she wants her dad to stay until October 2nd, and her mom to stay through the 16th. I told Steamroller The Mother had told me she was quitting her job, is that true? No, she just wants to. I told the Steamroller that since her parents were here for one month, they would pay three quarters of the rent.
Steamroller got very upset and told me she'll start looking for a new apartment this week. She left my room.
I went to the hallway and was waiting for the elevator when I heard screaming, and then the door to our apartment opened. The Mother angrily asked me to come back inside.
"Why did you make this all Steamroller's fault?"
I don't know what exactly came out of my mouth, though it may have been "Excuse me?"
All hell broke loose. I became scared The Mother was going to hit me. Steamroller yelled at her to go back in her bedroom. There was yelling in another language. The Father was pulling The Mother by the arm.
Steamroller shoved The Mother into the bedroom and shut the door. She apologized, waving her mother off, saying she's crazy, don't listen to her. Steamroller hugged me. The Mother came back out of the bedroom and screamed at me that I'm "no kind of roommate." Again, the same pulling and shoving back into the bedroom happened.
I left for work. Scared to be leaving this woman who so clearly hates me in my apartment with all my furniture. Got an e-mail from Steamroller again apologizing and giving me 30 days notice, saying she'll pay rent in October.
I'm scared to go home. I'm scared not to BE at home. I'm just scared, and equating home with fear, and that's never a good thing.
posted by Green at 9/20/2006 03:00:00 PM
3 Comments:
I think that there's a good chance that, given the time to plan it out, she'll move while you're at work and take everything in the place. This weirdo is untruthful, untrustworthy, AND from a foreign country. Oh yeah, and the people who raised her are living at your place. YIKES! The safety concern would override the breaking of a lease for me. Your credit will recover. Do you have renters insurance? I recommend it if you decide to wait it out.
I'm guessing your finances preclude you from this option, but if you could swing it, offer an amount of money to be out by a certain date. This is an incentive to get out promptly without doing further damage.
Do you have any un or underemployed aquaintences (Or REAL good friends) that you trust that could stay in the apt while you are gone?
I'm so sorry this is happening to you.
(and belated congrats on your anniversary)
this post is gorgeous.
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