Welp, I won… sorta

Me and my big stupid ass heart. I know the man is going to be sorta homeless… and that won out in the end, sorta.

We went to court as directed. Sat and listened to the judge tell us how he hates Thursdays because it is the day he has to put someone out of their home. He then explained how things work and that the law is on the side of the plantiff, pretty much in these cases always. He said he didn’t want to hear about money because that is a small claims court issue. He also didn’t want to hear about the sob stories and extensions, because GA law says if he signs the eviction it is 7 days, period.

He then introduced a man that was sitting in the back of the courtroom who was the court appointed mediator and that he would be sending some of the cases to him. He was the man to talk to when more time is needed or if there were other extenuating circumstances. My case was, of course assigned to the mediator.

We filed out and sat, for what seemed like ages, in the hallway. Man, that courthouse is ice cold! I didn’t wear my jacket thinking that it would be warmer in the building than it was outside. My bad. I froze. The pest sat as far from me as he could and that was fine with me. We were the fourth of five cases being mediated. Once we were called, we both filed into a small conference room. I put on a happy face and gritted my teeth… and had to fight the urge to bounce my leg, which is a bad nervous habit. The pest, on the other hand, was grim and angry and the mediator noticed it right off the bat.

I answered all of his questions and then tried to explain that I wanted to be fair and that the pest’s belongings, that are filling all the empty space in our basement, were safe. I wouldn’t touch it or sell it, which is the impression that the pest has. The mediator then told me that that really is not an option, because if someone broke in or if we had a house fire then we would be responsible for his things. It, of course, made perfect sense… but I told him I felt bad about this but that I need my house and family back.

He then turned to the pest to state his side. The very first words out of his mouth were “There are things in that house that DFACS should be called on.” WTF?? I just stared at him in disbelief. This man is so ungrateful about living rent free for over a year that he would again threaten me? The mediator stopped him in his tracks and told him in no uncertain terms that had nothing to do with why he was there. He also told him that we could all go back into the courtroom and the judge could sign the paper to have him out in 7 days.

He proceeded to argue that it was my husband who had told him that he could stay as long as he wanted and that he should be there. Again, the mediator told him that he wasn’t there and this was my case and I had the right to evict him as it was my home and not his. I told the mediator that I wanted to give him enough time to move and take his things with him, since leaving them there was not an option. The pest was not happy. He burst out with a “Oh, so now I am a theiving homeless man” or something like that, because I had mentioned that I didn’t want anything removed from the house unless someone was present. The mediator said that was not a stipulation he could add. He said I would have to make arrangements to be home.

The pest kept arguing that he wanted my husband present. The mediator reminded him again about the 7 days and that I was willing to give him some extra time. He finally sat back and after glaring at me for a few seconds said “Fine. Not like I can do anything about it is there?” After some thought and a suggestion by the mediator, I gave him until January first to move and remove all his belongings. I felt that was more than fair. I mean, it is not like he has no where to go. He has other friends he can call on. It is not my fault that he has succeeded in alienating all his family, including his daughter.

So I won, sorta… but now I am the most evil, wicked witch alive. I’m sorry, but I think I will enjoy that title for a while.