"Listen to me, Glen, you left the decision to me and I've made up my mind. Kevin has to go."
My sister is headstrong and stubborn as a mule, so I was walking on eggshells to come to the aid of my oldest and best friend. Since Brandi moved back in six months ago, I'd been trying to keep the peace between them, but they have a long history of bickering and fighting. The problem was that I had unintentionally backed Brandi into a corner and my sister is not one to back down, so I was doing my best to change her mind about throwing Kevin out of the house.
"Come on, Brandi, I know you don't like him but you wouldn't really throw him out, would you? He'd be homeless, with no car, no job and no money."
"It's been two years! He hasn't worked or paid a dime's rent in all that time. I can tell you that he hasn't even looked for a job since I've been here. He's a bum and a freeloader. Being homeless is what he deserves."
I reminded her that we were living rent free in the enormous house we grew up in and stayed when our parents retired to Ireland. Not only that, we were getting rent for three of the six bedrooms in the old barn of a house.
"Yes, and without Kevin we can give his room to someone who will pay for it," she retorted.
"Couldn't you just kick his ass? You've done it enough times over the years."
"It's obvious that kicking his ass didn't accomplish anything. Kevin needs to experience the consequences for his ill manners."
"Won't you at least let me drive him somewhere where he might find a job and a place to stay?" She stopped folding clothes and looked at me.
"When the clock strikes twelve tomorrow, I want to see him walking down the road with only the clothes on his back. Don't forget, you left this decision up to me."
"But isn't it enough that you are throwing him out? Why can't I at least drive him somewhere?"
She glared at me defiantly. I thought about how fortunate we were. We have wonderful loving parents to spoil us. We have good jobs because of our educations and are blessed with being exceptionally attractive. Like me, Brandi has a strong, athletic body, a beautiful bright smile and piercing green eyes. Life is relatively simple for my sister and I compared to Kevin's world as a diminutive little guy with no formal education or job skills. Nevertheless, he is clever and always knew how to push her buttons. She tossed her auburn hair to one side and replied.
"No, it isn't enough! I want my revenge on that little smartass. I want to see him humiliated and I want to be the reason why he feels ashamed of himself!"
Suddenly, I saw my chance. It was a small one, but I had nothing else.
"You know, Sis, if you want to humiliate him, there are probably ways that wouldn't make you out to be such a bitch." That stopped her cold, but she was adamant.
The next day, I sat on the edge of Kevin's bed and tried to be optimistic, but Kevin looked like he was going to be sick. He was as white as a ghost and sweating profusely. I could only imagine the thoughts going through his head. Kevin and Brandi have fought since we were in grade school, so this was the ultimate defeat for him.