tread softly because you tread on my dreams

there's this guy that used to work at trader joe's (i use "used to" because i assume after this weekend, he'll be fired). his name was keith. he was about 30. he seemed like an ok guy. played college b-ball, got into some trouble after school, and was working to get back on track. he had just moved to the area with his on/off girlfriend of 10 years. her name is stephanie and she got a job at trader joe's, too. kind of a ghetto mira sorvino of my cousin vinny. i liked working with her. she's a genuinuly nice person.

keith had a habit of skipping work once in a while. by once in a while, i mean once a week was norm. he didn't show up on friday night, and we just assumed he was pulling his stunts again. but then he was a no-show on saturday night as well. and that's when we found out that he stole stephanie's car and left friday and just disappeared without notice.

they had just sign a year lease on an apartment. her kid was living with them.

then i found out that he was in drug money trouble. stephanie had given keith her jewelry to pawn so he could pay off his debts. he didn't. he lost the jewlery. he kept up racking up the blow and the bills.

i guess the juice was too much for him and he bailed.

i used to like him. now, i just feel pity.

it's her--stephanie--that i'm more worried about. she moved her for him. she gave him money. she put up with this major shit. all for him, and his repayment is to steal her car and go awol.

i feel compassion and sympathy for her.

but if she takes him back if he ever does come back, it'll just be pity for her as well.