Writing Prompt

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My Response

Why is it when someone asks, “Would you do me a favor…” that the favor is never a cup of sugar or something simple?

… and co-sign on my home loan?

Yes, that is a favor I have been asked. It was asked by someone I don’t talk to often and am not close with. Furthermore, that is already a big ask and one that is usually reserved for a parent or someone you know extremely well, and is willing to pay up if you fall on hard times.

… and pay all of my bills so I can live in my home for just the cost of my loan payment.

That was an abusive friendship with a narcissistic friend of 10 years (at the time). He had been abusive in the past, I had a PPO (personal protection order) against him early on in our time knowing each other, forgave him when he fell on hard times, gave him a place to live when his parents evicted him from their home, was abusive when I had an emotional breakdown, then once he saw I was doing well again, he started relaying how he was abused by his girlfriend.

When she left him, I was asked if I could come and pay the bills so he could keep his home. He knew that I was struggling at the time, so I agreed and it was the last mistake I ever made. Not long after I moved in to help cover the bills he couldn’t afford, he started demanding more money. Well, when I stood my ground he started berating me, saying nasty things about my then 17-year-old daughter, and going as far as to throw trash at me because he also believed that I needed to be his housekeeper since he didn’t know how to clean up after himself.

I continued to stand my ground against him, he got more verbally and physically aggressive toward me. I started turning on my phone recorder to record anything he said when I walked out of my room, and I made sure to leave as much trash as possible behind in the room for him to clean after I left.

He is 3 years older than me and his exact words were, “Why would you do this to my parents since you know they will have to bail me out and clean up the house.” I assured him it is not my doing but his since he opted to be lazy and not take care of himself. Yes, they gave me a vehicle when I needed one. Yes, they helped me out of a few binds when I was struggling. I was not doing this to them. He was.

The police had to get involved twice this time. The first was in the move because he wouldn’t let me get my things to put on my boyfriend’s truck. He even tried to threaten him. My boyfriend called the police and they sent him to his room to let me get my things out.

The second call was because my daughter was finishing school online and they shipped her school laptop to the wrong address. I had updated them prior, but they still sent it to the wrong house. I showed up with the police to ask for the package.

He tried to hold it ransom by saying he would give it to me if I gave him a large sum of cash. I moved aside and asked if he would like to discuss that with the officers or just hand me the package he signed my name to receive.

They advised him to just hand over my property, and he had a fit over me asking for an escort without first trying to collect without them. I simply expressed this is why I called them first, took the package, and drove off after a thank you to the local police for their help in the situation.

By the way, if you call the police, they know him by name and have his address memorized.

Beware of the Favor Request

Maybe it is just me, but most favors I seem to receive have some hook to it beyond a friendly favor to pick up something while at the store or loan someone something for a short time.