Peter came over today asking for help with his laptop. He was complaining that he needed a cd key for office 2003. I couldn’t find one, so we went the long route and downloaded office 2007 for him.

While we waited for the download, we just sat around and had a chat. I noticed early on that he had taken a little glance at my ipod. I ignored it, and figured he was just checking it out to compare it to the one he has at home.

Then I remembered that I needed $5 to send a shirt back to LA for a return. So, I asked peter for $5. He said he didn’t have on him, but he would go to the ATM to get it. I said “ohh, forget it.” then he insisted, and left.

As he left, i noticed he started driving towards his house, instead of the ATM location. I then looked up and noticed my ipod was gone. He had left his laptop sitting there on my desk, so he had no choice but to come back. Sure enough, he returned 15 minutes later.

As he entered the door, I put on my serious voice and asked him where my ipod was;

Mikey: Where is my ipod peter?
Peter: Ohh, you mean this one? (pulls ipod out of pocket)
Mikey: Why is my ipod in your pocket peter?
Peter: Ohh, I just wanted to check it out.
Mikey: I didn’t tell you you could have it.
Peter: ohh, it’s no big deal. Here man, here’s your ipod (handing me an ipod)
Mikey: (looking over ipod, it’s extremely scratched up, the screen is extremely messed up, and it’s filled with a lot of rap music that i would never listen to, not even if you paid me) This isn’t my ipod peter. Can you go get my ipod please?
Peter: Sure man, oh wait, I don’t have an ipod. What would I need an ipod for? my phone has a cell phone camera
Mikey: You have an ipod. I saw it the last time I was at your house. You told me it had a dead battery.
Peter: What? When did you see my ipod? I don’t have an ipod
Mikey: yes you do peter. Can you go get my ipod?
Peter: (stands there for 3 minutes, silently looking at his ipod)
Mikey: Go get my ipod.
Peter: Okay

Another 10 minutes pass. Laptop is still on my desk, I’m happy with how i’m handling the situation. Peter finally returns.

Mikey: Do you have my ipod?
Peter: yeah man, I’m sorry. (handing me ipod)
Mikey: Why does my screen turn on?
Peter: ohh, the battery isn’t charged
Mikey: (plugging in portable charger), looks like you’re right.
Peter: Look man, I’m really sorry. i wanted to give you this (hands me some $20 watch, probably also stolen). It needs some batteries, but It is my favorite watch.
Mikey: That’s great. Thanks. You can leave now
Peter: What? What do you mean?
Mikey: I’m not going to fix your computer for you. You tried to rob me.
Peter: Uhhh, uhhh, uhh, (he needs this fix for his college class which is in a few hours)
Mikey: I’ll tell you what, I’ll do this if you give me another $10.
Peter: (Throws $10 and other $5 onto desk)
Mikey: Thanks peter.
Peter: (10 minutes worth of awkward silence)
Mikey: You know, everyone in high school knew you were a liar.
Peter: (shell shocked)

Peter didn’t talk for the rest of the trip. I did the 15 minutes worth of work, and his computer now has office 2007. It was a pretty nice adventure. I started the day with no money, and now I have $15, enough to buy the packaging stuff to send my shirt return back. If it weren’t for peter, I would have no money now.

I told the family about it, and they were pretty livid. I had already decided to ban him from the house, and they reinforced it.

I’m pretty happy.