an uneasy quiet

Things got worse, then got oddly quiet.

The afternoon of my previous post, my property manager told me S had gone into the restaurant and threatened some patrons. He was clearly on edge, maybe more so after repeated cop visits? Was I making things worse by calling them out?

* 

Then on Monday, my partner and I were leaving quite early in the morning for an urgent care appointment. He's out there, B said when he came in, and so we went out the back door of my building.

Unfortunately, S came around the back also, already yelling at 7.30am.

I was done. Beyond done. So tired of hearing his voice, the yelling, the slurs, the anger. It was a bad moment as we fumbled out the gate, surprised, confused, and I snapped, exasperated, Will you just shut the fuck up.

It was like dropping a lit match on a gas can. S erupted, shouting You shut the fuck up I'm going to kill you I'm going to...

My partner got in the mix, yelling at him to shut up, to stop showing his penis, etc etc.

They lunged at each other. 

Go on, call the cops, S screamed, so I did, trying to explain the situation and restrain B and get away from S. Neighbors came out on their porches. A passing dog walker advised me to just leave the guy alone, he's nuts (Thanks white dude.) S retreated, then approached again, holding his dirty blanket, angry and screaming, B screaming. We somehow retreated down the street to try and get to the doctor's visit, upset and scared.

The old people neighbors had yelled You sound like a big baby and B couldn't decide if they meant him or S.  

*

I came home later, cautious, pepper spray in hand. No S.

The following day, same cautious approach, no S. A neighbor told me the cops came eventually on Monday morning but S had calmed down by then, so they didn't take him in. No word from the homeless advocates I was emailing with. S was just -- gone.

I've seen the woman I think is S's sister around the neighborhood, at a po-boy place and a local bar. I haven't had the courage to approach her. 

I've looked at some apartments, including one really cool one across town, but my property manager won't release me early from my lease, unless I move into another one of their buildings (jerks). 

*

At a gay bar the next neighborhood over, I asked our favorite bartender who also lives near me, a gentle, soft-spoken soul, if he knew the guy. Oh yeah, W said. He comes in for water sometimes. One time I was out for a walk in the neighborhood and went past him twice and he yelled Hey f***t, get a girlfriend.

And you still give him water, my friend marveled.

Well, yeah, W said, sheepish.