Flatmates

Josh has turned strange, I fear. Resentful, maybe. I'm not sure. But he's been acting weird.

We had a deal that he could come and live with me for two months, as my friend, no problem, but if he decided to stay after that then he'd have to pay rent, which was from the middle of February. Everyone who lives with me has to contribute to the up keep of the house. It is only fair.

I told him how much the rent would be and I still remember his answer, Sure, I can do that.

He paid up some rent, a week ago, after I asked him about it (turning me into landlord ogre 1, demanding the rent) and when I asked, is this for mid Feb to mid March, he replied no just for March, I can't afford to pay for February. Then he said, I'll be earning great money when I return to Europe, though.

He's pretty much been masturbating and smoking pot and drinking beer and watching porn all night and sleeping all day, when he isn't working, on the very odd occasions. Which is fine, that's up to him. But to now go back on our agreement, so easily, saying he can't afford what was spoken about up front.

After that, he has avoided me, more or less.

I was lying down feeling unwell with my elbow at the time and didn't respond immediately. Stupid me.

I've thought about it for a while and stewed on it. Tonight we had this conversation.

Now Josh, the rent deal with you is that you are paying 3 months rent. (He leaves mid May)

Oh, said Josh. I don’t know that that was the deal.

That was what we agreed to in the beginning, I said.

I don’t know that that was what we agreed to in the beginning.

Yes, it was.

Is this a question, he said. Or why are you saying this to me?

(Draw breath) Well, I just wanted to be sure that we were thinking the same thing.

Well, if you are telling me that was the deal, well, then fine that was the deal.

Okay then, I said.

Now he's humming non-stop around the house, while ignoring me. Something I've realised he does when he is nervous.

Who was it who commented previously, Sounds like singe white female?

And all I want to do is live on my own.

Now, to compound the issue, I have a new flat mate moving in, David. I've known David for years and he asked if he could move in as a favour, before he moves interstate. Sure, I said.

Well, he is now in the process of moving his whole house into my house. I thought I rented him a room, not a storage facility. He's busy rearranging my life, so he doesn't have to put any of his stuff into storage. I'm a little surprised.

However, it is ostensibly my fault. I'm too generous, accommodating, soft, stupid, call it what you like, I'll answer to any of them. I started saying yes, of course, to a few things being put around the house, it's only fair. And those few things have now developed into, well, a whole house of furniture. And I have too much shit of my own, to start with.

Don't get me wrong, David is a gorgeous guy (of course, I thought that about Josh too) and I'm sure every thing will be fine, once I have a word.

But, why is it that it is me who has to have the word, when I'm doing favours for people? Why can't they see it for themselves?

Subject: toothbrush

It’s here it’s here…..wos looking in the jar where we keep ours…and no t b to be found …buuuuut on this moro…I was doing poo and I looked up and thought…of course of course….(wringing hands and extended finger movements) Chriso 

Is a buzzy one and not a fuzzy one, well mine is a fuzzy one cos I use it 2 times dailey..but Luko….hhhmmm well say no more…I don’t think he wipes his bottom either……. 

M

Subject: toothbrush

Yeah for Poo! Looking round while doing pooh to see my lost buzzy brushy thingie. I had to make a midnight dash(y) to that biggie shoppe with lots of thingies to get a fuzzy all of my own. I hopie that you washed your fingies before you rapped them round my recalcitrant, naughty, naughty, buzz buzz?

christian

Subject: toothbrush

Oh no..i smeared it and smeared it… 

Lubbly chocolatey buzzy brush…yummm

M

Subject: toothbrush

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

christian

Subject: toothbrush

Pooooooooooooooooooooo

Subject: toothbrush

I do so wipe my bottom

(Luke)

Subject: toothbrush

I hope you get runny poohs

christian

Subject: toothbrush

Yes yes but mista buzzy & your pillow slip took care of that for me……ha ha ha.

M

Subject: toothbrush

he, he, he...

christian

Subject: oh boo hoo

Miss! 

How are you? How’s your week going? 

Mine is okay but I got some unpleasant news yesterday – unpleasant-ish anyway. 

Those kidneys of mine have got x-ray poisoning! I thought it might be the cumulative effect of all the chemo I’ve had, but it’s just from the last transplant apparently. 

A rare but well documented side effect. It’s irreversible. 

Hmph! 

I’ve got all this material on dialysis that interests me not. “They” say that I have “a year or two” before it comes to that. 

I’m annoyed! 

Oh boo hoo! 

xxxx (Tom)

Subject: oh boo hoo

Boo-hoo indeed, miss. F*ck hey! Well, maybe, they'll find some... um? ...sh*t! 

My weeks just fine... well, in comparison, certainly. And I was all boo-hoo about another failed attempt at quitting smoking.

christian

Subject: oh boo hoo

Yes I stopped for 2 days but this morning I broke and bought some. 

Next week she cried bravely! 

Although I’ve just been crying for myself, to tell the truth. I went into Uni to complete the deferral papers, thinking, knowing maybe, that I will never go back. 

In many ways this last bloody bone marrow transplant has been altogether more trouble than it’s worth! 

Though without it, I would not be here to complain right now, I would not have gone to North America, I wouldn’t have had last weekend or many before that, and I wouldn’t have projected all my sh!t onto you. 

So, I don’t regret it. 

Yet, it still sucks. 

I love you Christian. 

I want to spend more time with you. 

xxxx (Tom)

Subject: oh boo hoo

You know, and I suppose these are hollow words now, really, but I was coming to visit you last night, after I visited my mum. But I drove off from mum, after her telling me that every house has now been robbed in the street, wondering how long it would be before she was robbed again, wondering what effect that would have on her and I turned the wrong way and didn't think about coming to your place until I hit Victoria Gardens in Richmond. 

Oops.

christian

Subject: oh boo hoo

Hahaha 

It’s okay. 

I wasn’t home anyway, I was at Turning Point until 11.30.

Good decision! 

But thanks for the sentiment! 

xxxx (Tom)

Subject: oh boo hoo

Smarter than I thought, huh? 

David C has moved in. 

Josh has gone weird. 

Life's... er... um, something. 

But I'm certainly not complaining

This is the conversation I had with Josh tonight

Now Josh, the rent deal with you is that you are paying 3 months rent.

Oh, said Josh. I don’t know that that was the deal.

That was what we agreed to in the beginning, I said.

I don’t know that that was what we agreed to in the beginning.

Yes, it was.

Is this a question, he said. Or why are you saying this to me?

(Draw breath) Well, I just wanted to be sure that we were thinking the same thing.

Well, if you are telling me that was the deal, well, then fine that was the deal.

Okay then, I said.

C