“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. “~ Albert Einstein
It would be foolish to assume that not everyone has a deep dark secret. In fact, by some definition of the term, we all have secrets in our lives that we would prefer to keep away from the rest of the world.
However with the Peyton Place style of life in which I live, news came to me that was something that got leaked out. But “leaked” is such a judgemental term. I just ended up getting the news from someone who had heard it directly from the soure. Gossip? Maybe. But I can see how in this case the gossip wouldn’t be woven in lies but in truth.
It was difficult to hear that one couple who lives here, has some how been able to screw the utility company. 80% of it though, is from non-payment. And they still have their electricity on. They have not once been turned off.
In this state, it is a law that the utility and power company cannot shut off electricity for those who are on a medical need. Such as oxygen, and other assorted medical equipment that needs to be plugged in to keep that person alive.
There are some neighbors here that are on oxygen 24/7. But the ones that I am writing about… are NOT. At some point, they contacted the electric company and actually lied by saying that they were on these machines that had to be kept running day and night. They knew about this law, and they abused it.
Now their electricity bill has grown to over $2,000.
I do not know just how much energy that they actually use from daily living. I know that they are in a 2 bedroom, and I am only in a 1 bedroom. So there’s going to be more usage for cooling and heating purposes.
And so the thing about it that honestly blew my mind, is that they’ve never paid their electric bill. Obviously they haven’t for some time if it actually has gotten that high. For myself, that’s like nearly five years of usage! Who knows how long it has been since they’ve even dropped a penny at it?
I am reminded of my last relationship. My ex-girlfriend’s father was similar in his wicked ways. Not so much by telling sob stories and lying to the power company, but rather never paying the bills. Her father was an active member of movie and music clubs. Her parents had a enormous collection of DVD’s that numbered into the thousands, and was fast approaching ten thousand. The number of CD’s that they also had in their home was insane as well. Because they kept ordering and never paid.
I cannot imagine a life of dodging and ducking paying bills. It must have been hell for her parents.
I remember the conversation I had with her father when I asked how he could afford it all. He said, “Just let them come after me and try to collect. By the time that they catch up with me. I will probably be dead. At least, I hope so. Then they can take it out of me.”
It really bothered me to hear that from a man that my then girlfriend looked up to and adored the ground he walked on. Combined with the fear she had for him if she were to go against his wishes.
Nonetheless, the neighbors here will still have to pay that huge amount. They ARE using that much power and have accumulated that much debt to the power company. To believe that they are just going to “get away” with it, would be very foolish. It was just so shocking to hear their attitude about it. I thought they were a bit smarter than that. But it would explain a lot about their own personal lifestyle. Which is their own business of course, but living in this small place that I do… one must be careful of what they do and what they say.
I do my best to keep out of a major part of other people’s business who lives here. Mainly because I would not want them so deep into my own business. And learning my own dark secrets.
Many have assumed that because in the past, I have spent a lot of my free time with this couple that I would hang out with them a lot. So others believe that it was okay to ask me “Where are they today?”. I’m not their keeper. I had luckily put an end to that one by simply not answering the curious crowds.
This dark secret of my neighbor is out. It’s quite a shame.
Dambreaker 