Getting Even, Steven

Yesterday should have been more celebratory for moi.  Thanks to a one-time surprise gift and some opportune timing in hitting up an aftermarket ticket site, I was able to secure a nosebleed ticket for what turned out to be a pivotal post-season playoff game for the New York Mets.  And because the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff caught fire when their backs were against the wall in their previous series, the game was played somewhere I could get to by an inexpensive train ride and a free shuttle.  It even turned out to be a picture-perfect afternoon game, not always a given in the post-season.

And as THE ASSOCIATED PRESS’ Beth Harris described, it turned out to be a picture-perfect result for this lifelong Mets fan:

The New York Mets weren’t sure what they were going to get with the Los Angeles Dodgers sending out a parade of relievers in a bullpen game. 

They found out right away.

Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos homered as the Mets stopped the Dodgers’ record-tying postseason scoreless streak in a 7-3 victory on Monday, tying the NL Championship Series at a game apiece.

Lindor added to his storybook season with a leadoff homer in the first inning against Ryan Brasier. Viento(s) delivered during New York’s five-run second, connecting for a grand slam against Landon Knack.

It was especially satisfying results-wise for me, as the two regular season games I was able to go to that the Mets played in Southern California–one against the Dodgers, one against the woeful Angels-both turned out to be losses.  Getting to any games at all these days is a hurdle for me.   I literally don’t know anyone who has spare tickets nor anyone who even is willing to go to a game these days.  So, for me, these pilgramages are frustratingly lonely at the outset, though inevitably I do at least bond with fellow fans.  People I’ll never see again, literal ships that pass in the night.  So I do tend to be overreliant on fan groups to share reactions.  Yesterday, with something to actually cheer about, this equalizer was producing quite a bit of activity in those groups.

But unfortunately, my day was completely ruined by the omnipresent texts and consistently pivoting Venmo requests from someone who apparently was determined to pick this particular day to mock and threaten me.  From 2 a.m. on through the game itself.

Were it not for the stern counsel of a one-time expert who implored me to save every shred of potential evidence should this become an issue worthy of it, I otherwise would have blocked this person.  But the by-product of such meticulousness is to have to confront these threats every time I even glanced at my phone.

Had fate not intervened and the spare battery I thought was available to me turned out to a be a dud, this might have gone on even longer.   And what I can share without being too obvious is that this has gone on in various spurts of frenetic energy for more than four years.

Those who are less aware of my specifics have implored, begged, cajoled me to simply give this person what they are demanding, regardless of whether or not they actually are entitled to it.  Not only has the number demanded changed literally dozens of times, but so too have previous “deals”.

I have a friend whose family has had ties to the “family”.  I take this friend’s advice as meaningful for that reason alone.  When I have mentioned this to this person, their counsel is “Never say yes to someone once who operates like that, because once you do they will never stop going back for more. What you pay them is inconsequential; it’s the control.  And they will own you until there’s nothing left”.

A long time ago, I worked as a manager at a video arcade in a Queens neighborhood that was close to where a number of prominent “family” members lived.  The owners were somewhat older men who were otherwise cordial and respectful with both customers and employees.  Their one admonishment to me was to be sure people played honestly and to be vigilant that they weren’t finding ways to get free games.   But when I made the naive error of chewing out one of the “family” members, they pulled me aside and said “Don’t ever do that again.  Hand him $20 in quarters and apologize.   And the next time he and his friends come in, you will hand one of then an envelope that one of us will give you.”

That’s how I learned about the concept of “insurance”.  Over the ensuing months, the envelopes were more frequent and they got fatter with the bills that were crammed into them”.  It probably wouldn’t surprise you that the business eventually went under.

And I was coping with the intrusion on one of my few opportunities to actually enjoy myself that I seem to be allowed to have lately, all I could think of was this long-dormant experience.

So today, I’m taking decisive action.  Again, I can’t go into details.  But just as the Mets were able to do yesterday, it’s time for this battle to get even Steven.

I can’t even in good faith ask for anyone’s help.  Those that have offered have demanded some sort of assurance that their investment would achieve a permanent result.  While I will at least try, my degree of confidence that it will be heeded without some sort of legal reinforcement is negligible.

I just know I can’t take many more days like yesterday, or the thousands that preceded it.  Bottom line, I don’t have “family”, or even family, to fix things in the manner that my friends and my tormentor do.

So at least wish me luck?

Until next time…