I let him in

We moved in a month ago and not long after I got the ‘… hello’ . That has been rare since moving here . I’ve decided that I’m part to blame and will put more effort in and try and engage with neighbours and parents I meet at school . As I I’ve said I’m soft and can occasionally be too open to people who ….. you know…. are fucken pains in the arse . “How you going there ” a voice yells out from across the road “. “I’m good mate , yourself ?” . “Oh , you’re an Aussie , I used to be married to one .I lived in Double Bay in Sydney and in Perth”. “Shit , ok , that’s cool”. “We should catch up ” he replies . “Sure “, I reply . I didn’t know it at that time but I’d just opened myself up . Over the next few days Mike ( name change , yeah I’m paranoid)was there to greet me when I got home , always yelling out ‘hi . ‘ When Emma went to Paris he had noticed and insisted I come over to his small front yard and have a beer . I did ( shouldn’t have ) . Before long he had Leroy and myself upstairs . He’s great with kids and had Leroy wrapped around his finger . Once upstairs it soon becomes obvious Mike is seriously unhinged . The joint was a pigsty , with various smoking paraphernalia and the strong pungent smell of dope . I’m fidgeting and trying to come up with an out clause , but Mike is quickly raging on about his life story . Don’t worry , I trust him with Leroy , he has five kids .He has Leroy playing darts in his tiny living area , music blaring, he slips into some gym apparatus and flips himself upside down ,and then tokes on a joint made out of a palm leave . I kid you not , I thought I was in some movie , as this couldn’t be any crazier . After his continual hounding I take a puff myself, knowing Leroy is busy in the other room playing darts . As I turn to go back ,there’s Leroy at the door watching . He had come to get me as a dart had missed the board and got stuck in the wall . Whoops , this a real no no on my part, fortunately he thinks it’s a cigarette. ( he told Emma , I got in trouble …. fair enough ) Within minutes the guilt and the paranoia of my action has kicked in. I tell Marcus we are going home . He then goes on a diatribe about how the affect of the marijuana has shut me down and I should stay and have more as I will come around again . Fuck , what have I got myself into . Eventually we leave with a heap of new baseballs and a special hitting bat under Leroy’s arm . He’s now even more attached to us. I’m making one mistake after the other . We agreed to have a bbq tomorrow. I just said anything to get out of there ….another mistake . Sure enough he’s waiting for me again the next day . “I’ve got the meat defrosted , are we ready to bbq up “, he yells . Oh fuck .. what do I say . I eventually squirm out of it unconvincingly . He’s not happy and tells me I’ve left him in the lurch . Eventually the next night I come over and cook his meat for him and make him a salad . I’m trying to make amends, another mistake . “I’l grab you’re number Troy , so I can call you , to come over “. I give it to him , I don’t know what else to do , but there’s another mistake . I told you I’m soft .. and occasionally stupid . Before long he’s off to a music festival in San Francisco ( he’s 67 years old !) and he’s left his house keys with me . He gets me to open his windows once he’s gone as he’s bombed the house with pesticide as he’s getting eaten alive . It isn’t any wonder with the state of the joint , the little fuckers have probably got the munchies as they’d be permanently stoned with the fumes . He now rings me most days and continually wants me to come over and fix stuff or help him , but he just wants the company . He will come through the front door without invite if the doors open ….. I now try and keep it shut . Now he wants to take Emma and I to dinner tonight at 6 pm . I’ve told Emma under no circumstances is she to be home on time . Yep I’ve found a friend ….. I just hope that when and if I cut the cord on our little affair he’l take it in good faith . You do know guns are common over here ?