Which is it?

I know reading this may seem confusing at times. Is our new roommate a woman who was living completely on her own, independently without trouble for most of her life or is she a child?

Good question. There are times when we have wondered if she hasn’t been struggling on her own and other times when we just can’t get past feeling manipulated and used. Other times we don’t know if she is okay or if she is lying or if she just wants attention or if she wants to be alone. I asked S this question yesterday and he didn’t know either.

Yesterday was the day we were finally able to have the funeral for my dear Grandfather. Our family left the house at 10am and returned after the luncheon and burial about 3:15. S had an appointmetn at 4 so he was rushing to change and T and I were also rushing to change so we could get to the afterparty at my sisters. Our roommate hears the sudden outburst of noise and activity that can only mean we are home and in a hurry and starts yelling up.

Stephen

Stephen

Stephen

He loves that.

“Yes, Mom?”

Say I used the rest of the Round Up on the weeds in back and I sprayed all around the rocks back here. There is a lot of grass in the back yard and I really thing you should get it picked up.

Smoke immediately starts coming out of my ears but he says to her

“Well, I don’t have time for that.” And leaves.

Hours later we come home from the afterparty moments before S comes home after his last appointment. T scurries inside ahead of us so when I come in I hear her yelling. Seriously. I am not even inside my house yet and I hear our roommate yelling from the basement like some irritaing motion activated puppet.

STEPHEN

STEPHEN

Are you home Stephen??

I lean over the railing. “K its me. He is home but getting the mail. Are you ok? Is ther something you need?”

No, I’m fine.

Then S comes in and the puppet resumes.

S I need help! There is absolutely no electricity down here. The fridge is dark, my coffee pot doesn’t work, the microwave doesn’t work, the toaster doesn’t work, my grill doesn’t work, the lights aren’t on…..

He goes into the garage to check the circuit box, finds the tripped circut and takes care of it. This is her response.

HAH! You fixed it! Oh my gosh what did you do?? My toaster seems to be on. Yup. The microwave is working. Oh good the fridge light is on…. I was so afraid we were going to call an electrician.

Hmmmph.

I never expected this to be easy. I never expected that having our new roommate would be like having Mary Poppins in the house, selflessly doing what needed to be done without comment. Deadheading without mentioning it because it isn’t a newsworthy activity or raking the excess grass when it finally dries enough in back to mow, or being able to check her own circuit breaker… but I didn’t expect her to somehow make my life a little harder every single day.