One of the recurring theme of conversations with The Boy, especially bringing him home from work, is his assertion that he, Lobster, and M.A.E. are going to move out and get an apartment in January. My audible response has usually been a grunt, although I think “Yeah right” to myself. Trying to explain the Real World to The Boy, I have found, is a waste of syllables; I figured he’d find out for himself.
So with school closed around here Thursday and Friday due to the ice, they piled into Lobster’s truck and went off to secure an apartment they had scoped out some time back. M.A.E. later told us that the manager wouldn’t rent to them because The Boy and Lobster are still in high school, and “we’ve had problems doing that before.” The other minor detail was three people of mixed gender in a two-bedroom apartment. Nobody would come out and say it, but it was pretty clear that The Boy and M.A.E. had planned to share one of the rooms.
The Boy said, “everything was going fine until the manager asked us if we were students [presumably at the local college -FF], and M.A.E. said we were in high school.” He didn’t even mention the other part.
In a vain attempt to further drive the lesson home, Mrs. Fetched ran a few numbers past The Boy: at $525/month rent, each person had agreed to put up $175/month. Lobster says he can’t even afford to pay us $100/month for rent (plus all the food he eats), and M.A.E. barely brings home more than that per month. With the only full-time job among the three of them, The Boy would be the one essentially paying the rent. And then there’s the minor detail of electric bills, heating bills, laundry, food... kiss all the extracurricular stuff (movies twice/week, shooting pool) goodbye. He didn’t respond much. With him, you can’t tell if it’s sinking in or bouncing off.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
1 comment:
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Well the only way they're going to learn anything, is from experiance. Let them get a apartment on their own, and don't discourage them. Once they start to realise that nothing is free in this world they might start to see things differently. I moved out shortly after I got out of school, and it didn't work out and had to move back home. You know how Mommy Dearest can make things just so welcoming you never want to leave (LOL).
ReplyDeleteI think if the Boy and his crew get an apartment, the fun should start. Rent, food and power costs should open their eyes big time. And do you think they could live without cable TV or a phone? Then he has car insurance payments and gas.
Nothing you tell them about life will stick because he already knows everything.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!!!