What just happened?

[Jeff Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff]

The strangest thing just happened at my house.

I went out for a smoke, came back in and grabbed a movie to watch on the big screen in the livingroom, and I see this kid walking up to my front door. I was home by myself, so with all this shit going on in the world, people killing each other, I'm a little scared.
I open the door slightly and say "what's up buddy? what can I do for you?"

He says "please call an ambulance. I'm very suicidal and about to kill myself."

What the fuck do you do? I had my cell on me, in my pajamas, so I call 911 while standing outside with this kid. While the cops are trying to get their shit together, they ask me his name, where I live, yadda yadda, and my head is going a million miles an hour. All the fear thoughts are coming through, like "is this kid gonna jump me? does he have a friend around the back ready to break into the house? will you fucking police just get your ass over here NOW!" Meanwhile the kid is crying his face off and we are both shivering because it's like 2 degrees outside. I'm being totally honest: I was about to start telling him about my own experience with suicide, but I didn't. When you are in that state, the last thing you want to hear is someone else's problems.
The cops finally show up, and get the kid in an ambulance. From the minute I saw him, I knew he must be shivering and freezing, so I took a really nice jacket I had and walked up to the ambulance to give it to him. The cops came back in my house briefly, took my license # (really? REALLY! wtf) asked me if I knew him, and I didn't. He was a kid on the run from Plainville, a town 10 miles away from me. The only thing he said was that he was tired of being bullied.

Knowing myself and what I've been through, I'm looking for a deeper meaning to this. I know I did right and helped him as much as I could, but I feel as if God or whatever higher power exists is trying to tell me something. I just can't figure it out.

Of course, the topper to all this is that, an hour later, my dad and aunt show up, I tell them what happened, and my dad chastises me for helping the kid because "people are screwed up today. He could have blown your head off. Why the hell did you open the door?" Thanks, dad. Fucking thanks.

[Agent Purple The Illustrated Man Find all posts View Profile Close Agent Purple]

I'm not saying your dad is right, but part of the risk of doing the right thing is exposing yourself to extreme danger.

Just as much as he could have hurt himself, he could have hurt you, and a lot of people have been on the receiving end of that side of the coin.

As worried as you were for that kid, and of that kid, your dad was worried for you.

I have lived my whole life in a good neighborhood. Almost zero crime, ever. But a kid who used to live a few houses down now runs with a terrible crowd and all they do is hurt people, largely by destroying their sense of peace and security, breaking into their homes and robbing them. They recently targeted the two houses next to mine.

I don't like when people I don't know come to my house, because for all I know, they could be part of this damn gang of thieving shits. I've opened the door for cops, religious persons, and the just plain lost. But damn if it doesn't scare me that the next person could be trouble.

That said, I'm glad that help was gotten (to some degree, and for now) for the kid.

[Robinson Guardian Of The Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Robinson]

I think you just told us what happened.

[Jeff Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff]

I think you just told us what happened.

I'm sort of looking for the deeper meaning in this. But thank you for the update, Captain Obvious.

[JohnnyV Pictionary Master Find all posts View Profile Close JohnnyV]

If there is a deeper meaning, you'll find it yourself. There's nothing much we can add to what sounds like a crazy night. Definitely did the right thing, but as Purple said, there's always a risk. In times like you went through, sometimes it's nearly impossible to run all the scenarios in your head. Cause you're scared, emotions run high. A lot of times your gut instincts will kick in, and you'll do what feels naturally. Cowards hide, the people who want to do the right thing will do the right thing.

Just know you probably saved his life, maybe he'll find perspective in all of this. Maybe, he'll come back and thank you and show you his life is back on track. Who knows, maybe you'll find that deeper meaning you're looking for.

[Jeff Guardian of the Universe Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff]

If there is a deeper meaning, you'll find it yourself. There's nothing much we can add to what sounds like a crazy night. Definitely did the right thing, but as Purple said, there's always a risk. In times like you went through, sometimes it's nearly impossible to run all the scenarios in your head. Cause you're scared, emotions run high. A lot of times your gut instincts will kick in, and you'll do what feels naturally. Cowards hide, the people who want to do the right thing will do the right thing.

Just know you probably saved his life, maybe he'll find perspective in all of this. Maybe, he'll come back and thank you and show you his life is back on track. Who knows, maybe you'll find that deeper meaning you're looking for.

Thanks. I think that's what I needed to hear. I'm still trying to mentally process the last 2 hours of my life. This means a lot to me.

[Big Daddy Dave Skywalker Moisture Farmer Find all posts View Profile Close Big Daddy Dave Skywalker]

Your dad was just being a dad. Your story definately scared the shit out of him. Can't blame him for his reaction. But the bottom line is, you helped the kid. You done good.

[Maverick_GL Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Maverick_GL]

:Moderator:

You Americans...you're so funny. I find it so amusing how much Fear permeates your lives, how even in an act of kindness for a desperate soul (and very good on you for doing what you did despite --->) being addled by the fear of your own safety.

I remember a couple years back, I was in bed reading, or maybe sleeping, about 12 am or so, and I hear shouting between a male and a female at a school about a block from me. I lied there for about 30 seconds before getting dressed and going to check it out. Could have been knives involved, guns (not likely) or any number of things (I live in a "rougher area" of town). I get there and it's a verbal fight between a boyfriend and girlfriend. The girl wanted the guy to leave her alone, the guy wouldn't and was desperate for her to "just come home". There was another guy there, an older guy, I think he knew them, the girl anyway. After trying to convince the guy to let her go and sleep on it for the night, I ended up having to hold him in place while the girl and the other guy left.

Then I invited him back to my house, gave him a beer and let him talk about his shit. Half an hour later he was on his way, never saw him again.

Was I afraid? Not really, slightly nervous approaching the school but once I had the situation gauged, there was nothing to fear. Maybe it's because the guy was quite a bit smaller than me, or there was another guy there, or whatever, but there was very little fear for my own safety.

Anyway, I"m not directing this toward you personally Doom, I think it's good (obviously) you did what you did, despite having fear. And I'm not in anyway saying I'm better than you or anyone for not being afraid. My point is simply that your culture seems to be based on Fear, to such a level that even when helping someone, there is the underlying fear for personal safety. I'd like to think it's not like that up here in Canada. Although to be fair, when I told my then g/f about it, she said I was crazy.

[JohnnyV Pictionary Master Find all posts View Profile Close JohnnyV]

You Americans...you're so funny. I find it so amusing how much Fear permeates your lives, how even in an act of kindness for a desperate soul (and very good on you for doing what you did despite --->) being addled by the fear of your own safety.

I remember a couple years back, I was in bed reading, or maybe sleeping, about 12 am or so, and I hear shouting between a male and a female at a school about a block from me. I lied there for about 30 seconds before getting dressed and going to check it out. Could have been knives involved, guns (not likely) or any number of things (I live in a "rougher area" of town). I get there and it's a verbal fight between a boyfriend and girlfriend. The girl wanted the guy to leave her alone, the guy wouldn't and was desperate for her to "just come home". There was another guy there, an older guy, I think he knew them, the girl anyway. After trying to convince the guy to let her go and sleep on it for the night, I ended up having to hold him in place while the girl and the other guy left.

Then I invited him back to my house, gave him a beer and let him talk about his shit. Half an hour later he was on his way, never saw him again.

Was I afraid? Not really, slightly nervous approaching the school but once I had the situation gauged, there was nothing to fear. Maybe it's because the guy was quite a bit smaller than me, or there was another guy there, or whatever, but there was very little fear for my own safety.

Anyway, I"m not directing this toward you personally Doom, I think it's good (obviously) you did what you did, despite having fear. And I'm not in anyway saying I'm better than you or anyone for not being afraid. My point is simply that your culture seems to be based on Fear, to such a level that even when helping someone, there is the underlying fear for personal safety. I'd like to think it's not like that up here in Canada. Although to be fair, when I told my then g/f about it, she said I was crazy.

Well, you're really comparing an apple to oranges situation. Restraining a guy cause he's mad at his girlfriend and then having a brewsky to talk about the problem is different than a random teenager showing up at your doorstep, bawling his eyes out and talking about suicide. I've broken up a couple of fights between BF's and GF's before, because emotions ran high and things got physical. People tend to calm down from shit like that. Unlike people who are suicidal, there's always fear when you're dealing with something along those lines. As Doom said, when someone is in that state you never know what they're liable to do.

I wouldn't say it's a culture difference, so much as it's a completely different scenario difference.

[Maverick_GL Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Maverick_GL]

:Moderator:

I wasn't really comparing, just sharing a story. I've also dealt with suicidal people, but I always figured they were out to end their own life, not someone elses.

[Agent Purple The Illustrated Man Find all posts View Profile Close Agent Purple]

Murder-suicide happens a lot.

[JohnnyV Pictionary Master Find all posts View Profile Close JohnnyV]

Well, I was commenting that you see it as a cultural difference in the handling and state of the situation. And I don't know if that's a fair comparison since the emotions involved and situation for you and Doom were different.

[myuserid Lantern Hex Find all posts View Profile Close myuserid]

I feel as if God or whatever higher power exists is trying to tell me something. I just can't figure it out.

Maybe God sent that kid to your door because you were just the right person to help.

Good job.

[Hybrid Lantern Corps Honor Guard Find all posts View Profile Close Hybrid Lantern]

I would have called the cops but no way I am stepping out of the house or opening the door for him.

[Tazer That Evil, Yellow Bastiche Find all posts View Profile Close Tazer]

Yo.

so, U see the kid is shivering *yet* ya only tried to warm'im up AFTER the cops showed up??

bad form there comrade.........SHAME ON YOU!!! *shakes finger*




Tazer