I grew up in low-income, subsidized apartments. Our home in The Sack is the first house I've ever lived in. Even though we've been here for more than six years, I still have moments where I think someone is going to burst in and say, "Alrighty now, what do you think you're doing here? Get your stuff and get out!"
So one could say that I'm relatively content with my surroundings. Certainly, life is more complicated than I'd like it to be, but it could be much, much worse.
But are the residents who live on this leafy, modern street really happy?
From an observer's position, it can be difficult to tell. Happiness and contentment, I suppose, are a matter of individual perspective and experience.
Sometimes, however, there are rather obvious signs that all is not well.
Sometimes, however, there are rather obvious signs that all is not well.
***
Oscar reports that a particular house in The Sack is poised to undergo a major meltdown in the very near future.
Recently, Oscar converted his dining room into a television room. The window in this room faces a window next door. He says he's been hearing regular, profanity-laced arguments coming from his neighbour's home.
According to Oscar, the arguments have become more frequent and more intense over the last three weeks. It's getting to the point, Oscar says, where he's spending "way too much time" in his new television room.
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Living next door to Oscar is the Bitterman family.
Oscar has what he calls a "driveway relationship" with the Bittermans. The only interaction they have is when they're entering or leaving their homes. Despite Oscar's charm, this is as intimate as their relationship is going to get.
Mr. and Mrs. Bitterman seem like very nice people. They're friendly, but distant. They have little contact with others in The Sack, but they're cordial when they need to be.
I have no trouble with this at all. In fact, all things considered, they seem to be very good neighbours.
***
Mr. and Mrs. Bitterman have two adult children, Jason and Britney. Jason is around twenty-one and Britney is a few years older.
Britney lived away from home for a few years. Sack sources say she moved back after breaking up with her boyfriend. Apparently, it was quite a spectacular break-up. I'm told that there were restraining orders involved.
Since returning home, it seems that things have not gone well for Britney. She was the young woman we talked about in a previous post, Not One of Her Better Days.
***
Oscar tells me that Britney's voice is usually at the centre of the arguments.
He says Britney is terribly profane and doesn't discriminate when it comes to which family member she'll argue with. Oscar says he's heard her do battle with each of parents and her brother. In one epic fight, according to Oscar, the whole family took the brunt of her wrath at the same time.
Britney, it seems, has quite a lot of anger.
***
It would be hard to know this if you only encountered Britney outside in The Sack.
She doesn't seem terribly bright, but she is friendly in a detached kind of fashion. The detachment, of course, might just be part of not being very bright.
***
Oscar says that Britney is perpetually on the brink of making a major life transition.
According to Mr. Bitterman, Britney is about to go back to school to complete her high school equivalency. Unfortunately, he's been telling Oscar this for the last two years.
So far, it hasn't happened.
***
Jason, the youngest Bitterman, is also reported to be on the precipice of a life change.
Oscar has been told that Jason is about to join the military. There have been numerous occasions over the past year, where Jason has been about to leave for basic training.
So far, this has happened, either.
***
Big Doug is a former military man. He's heard that Jason is about to join the military. Everytime he sees the young man, he gives him a crisp salute. Jason always returns the salute with a big smile.
For Big Doug's sake, one hopes that Jason will enlist one day.
***
It could simply be Mr. Bitterman's best hope that his children will make these particular life changes. Perhaps they have no intention of doing so.
Either way, Mr. Bitterman has aged considerably over the last few years. Mrs. Bitterman has put on quite a lot of weight, too. Oscar says her hair always seems to be wet, as if she can't stop sweating. I've told Oscar that this could be related to menopause, but he remains doubtful.
***
Oscar is predicting that a climax to the arguments is on the horizon. He doesn't think there will be any violence involved, but he does think the Bitterman family woes will soon be laid bare to the rest of The Sack.
"I think", Oscar says, "there will be a peeler visit by Christmas."
Only time will tell, but we'll be sure to let you know what happens next.
***
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