reason 1,000,002 (and counting) …
Originally written 03.05.2002.
… why I’m straightedge.
I’m going to download Firestorm by Earth Crisis and just put on my headphones and play it over and over on nights like tonight.
The day started out cool enough. Marco’s mate from Aberdeen came down for a visit. I found out that Marco used to be a Magic: The Gathering player. I hadn’t played since one nerdy weekend back when Josh and I were living in Riverwatch during my sophmore year, but after some arm-twisting (actually, I confess, no persuasion was needed), Marco convinced me to play him in a game. It was fun, but it was sort of odd to realize that Marco started playing long after I had quit.
As afternoon turned into early evening, however, things were not so cool. Marco had hit the Buckfast (a tonic wine that’s his favorite alcoholic beverage) and was already showing signs of drunkenness. I went down to collect my wash from the laundry room only to find Iain sitting in the common room looking very concerned. Evidently Marco had provoked Iain into a bit of a scuffle and Iain had pushed Marco hard, leaving him with some rug rash on his back, and Marco had then thrown some blows before his mate was able to intervene. Iain was pretty upset that he lost control so easily, but knowing Marco, I’d almost guess that he deserved it. Marco eventually came in and appologized and Iain did as well. So that’s one reason I’m sXe; avoiding putting your good friends in situtations that are utter shite. Iain is honestly one of the nicest people I’ve known in a while, and he was obviously upset by the fact that things got out of hand with Marco, and that just sucks.
So with all that over, I ate my tofu and went to my room to code up my programming assignments. All of a sudden, I heard something hit the ground below my window. I looked out, and saw a speaker hit the ground. Then I saw another, and another, and another. I cringed as each piece of electronics hit the ground, hoping that pieces didn’t ricochet and hit a nearby car. By that time, people in nearby flats were peeking out their windows at the carnage, wondering who had done it. I knew. There was only one person drunk enough to destroy their personal possesions so randomly. Drunkard X. (Let’s call this person drunkard X for now so as to protect the not-in-any-way innocent) So, I just stayed in my room, and heard all kinds of madness outside and from the rooms upstairs. I just turned up the volume on the This American Life episode and ignored it all. I heard a knock on my door, and when I opened it, it was the university security. They took a look out my window, and given the running laptop and schoolbooks on the desk in front of the window, seemed pretty satisfied that I wasn’t the culprit. They asked me if I saw who did it. I told them that I didn’t know.
After the authorities had left, I went up to find the rest of my flatmates in the common room talking about the incident. Drunkard X was pretty relieved that he had gotten away with it. I don’t know how he pulled it off. He’s just a pretty smooth talker I guess. After he left, Rob told me that Drunkard X had simply thrown the stereo (evidently the stereo that another flatmate had bought for Drunkard X after that flatmate had smashed Drunkard X’s original stereo) out the window because the CD player wouldn’t play a burnt CD! He also told me that I shouldn’t tell Iain, or anybody else about it, which was kind of hard since I texted Iain about it as soon as the speakers started falling. I guess I’m breaking that request again as I’m writing this hear, but I’m guessing anyone who reads this isn’t in a position to get anyone into any trouble. It’s not like I really care what happens to Drunkard X, but I’m willing to be pragmatic. Getting kicked out of the flat, or kicked out of school, which would be the likely consequence if he were caught, won’t help him make better decisions in his life.
Again, we have another shining example of why I’m straightedge. Once again, I find myself in an akward position because of something out of my control. I’ve had to lie to the authorities, and, even worse, I’ve been asked to keep things from my other friends. Furthermore, I would say avoiding doing plain stupid shit is another good reason why I’m sXe. The falling hifi gear, luckily, didn’t hit any cars, or, thank goodness, anybody, but it could have. At the very least, it junked up the courtyard around the flat. Finally, I know kids who would really like a stereo like that and can’t afford. Fuck, I would have used it if he really didn’t want it. It’s just such a fucking waste to see it lying in pieces outside my window. Don’t get me wrong. I like mindless destruction as much as the next guy, but this is far, far past the point where I draw the line.