Via Mom-

Just had a call from Ms Swartz [bro’s landlord] regarding Derek. She said he had not paid his rent and was served yesterday with a 3 day notice to vacate. She said she told him if he came up with his rent he could stay until the end of the month, but he had to leave by then. She said that she had numerous complaints from the other tenants of noise late at night, low life people and even a woman screaming. The tenants called the police, she has tried to get the police reports to get to the bottom of what was happening. She also said she went by the place and a very sad looking girl was with him…she said because she has met me, she feels badly for the family, but he has to go. This makes me sick and reminds me of his fathers last year..I’m at a loss.Mom

It’s worse than I thought… and I thought it was bad. I don’t think she needed to stick me with the dig about Dad at the end. I’ll forgive her slight, as these are trying times for her. She seems to forget her involvement in that whole prior disaster.

I wonder if this entry will be public, this time next year.

I wonder if my brother will be alive, this time next year.

I hope he doesn’t hurt anyone else on his way down. I’ve known for a long time that he’s a no-hope situation.

Talked to Bro just now more about what happened last night and he’s got conflicting stories. Called up the mom to get her input, and she told me he called and told her that he was robbed last week, not last night. Pissed, I called bro back, and he waffled some more, claimed he was robbed both times, and couldn’t produce a single case number when I offered to track stuff for him with the police.

I told him to let his landlord and parole officer know what was up, and that if he *is* in fact getting robbed regularly, both by people he knows and doesn’t know, (no breaking and entering, stuff just “goes missing”) and he hasn’t changed the locks…then it’s time for him to move.

I can tell that most of his robbery talk is BS, because his precious xbox is still around. I can’t think of him owning a more easily grabbed, pawnable, object of opportunity.

He’s also certainly into shady stuff again… whenever anyone knocks on his door, he calls out that he’s on the phone with his brother, or his family, and for folks to pipe down.

I told him that if he hangs out with shady folks, he’s going to lose a lot more than his stuff… his life and his freedom will come next.

If he wants to spend the rest of his life in jail, that’s his choice. He knows damn well what he’s getting into or what he’s gotten himself into. My family has tried helping him time and time again, but we know full well now that only he can help himself. I’m sorry that he turned out the way he did, but there’s nothing I can do for him. I won’t give him anything except advice, and that’s something he already knows.

The guy just turned 32, and he’s still got the social skills and attitudes of a 13-year-old, and shows no signs of change, even after hitting rock bottom, earlier this year. He still won’t get a regular job, preferring instead to get money by hustling, or playing games.

He is the greatest disappointment in my life. Whenever he even starts to look like he’s getting his act together, it turns out that it’s all a lie.

On the upside, he has managed to pay his rent so far, and hasn’t copped the “landlord won’t do X, so I won’t pay rent” line yet. Let’s see how this month goes.