Night in WeHo. Tony's first days with us. Part two.

We had given him a $50 gift card and sent him out to buy some things. He then went out for a few hours to a clinic appointment, if I recall, initially, with some $32 or so dollars left on the card. I had told him to put $10 on his TAP card for Metro (transit). Once before, I had given him a gift card and said this was a "lottery gift"; find out what's left and it's yours. He ended up with some $24 or so dollars. In this case, it was not a gift, rather something he could use to get us things or we could tell him or agree to allow him to use for himself. For me, it was a trust building exercise with a gift card that we were given for going to our vacation ownership presentation. He had an appointment at a clinic and is over on the edges of West Hollywood.  I am not sure he didn't even suggest that he might say he might head over to "Boystown" before coming back but we knew he wasn't returning right after his appointment, which actually made sense to me. About the only time I go to any of the bars on Santa Monica Boulevard is because I am already on the Westside for something else.

Starting at 9:10 PM, here was our exchange:

Tony:  Hi I'm thinking I'll stay in weho tonight and head to u tomorrow morning early , and tackle fridge and anything else you got for me if that's ok

Me: You are not expecting to use up our gift card?

Tony: Hi, I did use it for cigarettes if that's ok, I will give u back cash in the morning? Plus for metro fare

Tony: Receipt sas you have 16 bucks left on it

Tony:Will have 17.00 cash for you manana to cover what I spent

Me: I said we would pay for Metro fare

Me: I only have issue with things being done without our consent 

Tony:Oh I am sorry

Tony: I should have chceck d with u before

Tony: I do promise to have the cash for u 

Tony: I understand completely

Tony: Wont happen

Me: Not a big deal. Just prefer more than less communication

The next morning, I send him a text early (7:47 AM) not necessarily expecting an immediate reply. Then again, depending on his "luck" on scoring a place to stay and meth he could very much be awake. I ask him to let me know where he is and to coordinate as I might be able to pick him up and I also might ask him to pick something up. I really wanted this awesome seafood salad that is at the Pavillions in West Hollywood. I just had it for the 1st time a week earlier when I so happened to be over on the Westside and decided to stop along Santa Monica Boulevard. I first got a reply at 11:26 AM.

Tony: Hi  sorry I didn't realize how tired I was I overslept

Tony: On my way home

Tony: To u just stopped at Target to get cash

Tony: If u need anything from here let me know

About a half hour later, I responded telling him not to worry about getting me anything explaining I wanted something at Pavillions for lunch but it was already lunchtime. I was going into a webinar and would be done at 1. As it turned out, it ran longer, which was fine because Anthony asked to stop somewhere for lunch and head to me following. I asked him to buy a couple bottles of cheap red wine with the gift card and the rest of the money was his to use. I emphasized keeping bottles under $10 and coming out ahead on the "deal." Further, the only thing he seems to drink (in terms of alcohol) is red wine.

At 1:34, some 90 minutes later, he tells me he is stopping at a store at Sunset and LaBrea, roughly 10 miles from our home. OK. Knowing Target is at Santa Monica and La Brea, I can presume he has stayed in the same "region" most of this time. Santa Monica Boulevard & La Brea to Sunset Boulevard & La Brea is .6 mile or a 15 minute walk. There is a food court in the mall with the Target and other restaurants around so I guess a good place to eat. I am, at this juncture, though, beginning to get a little anxious as he was to help me out with multiple tasks and he had to leave yesterday, albeit understandably, for an appointment but then stayed out all night and now half the day is gone and he isn't back. I, meanwhile, am behind schedule (seemingly constantly) and about to leave town. Our deciding whether he will stay here in our absence is also riding on his ability to show responsibility over these few days. Once he leaves the store, it will realistically take roughly an hour to take a bus back to DTLA.

At 3:26 PM

Me: When do you think you'll be here? 

Me: I am not worried about the refrigerator it's the things I only have to day to go through with you.

Me: Remember I am not home all day tomorrow

At 3:36 PM he replies

Tony: Ten mins

It was more like an hour.  He came with 4 or more bottles of wine, more than I requested.  He had bought them at Target.  I'm fairly certain they were from the one in downtown LA right around the corner from our house. It would have made sense for him to wait until he came down town to buy wine, But why lie about when and where you got them?  When I posed this question to my husband he simply replied "he's an addict."