Mark’s brother is famous at the Indy shop. Any time Mark is arrested, in a bar fight, slapped by a girl, or has his car stolen, odds are great that his brother somehow instigated the incident or was the actual cause of the incident. I.E., “My brother says you’re a dirty slut and you’ll fuck my brains out.” Five seconds later, Mark gets slapped by a girl he doesn’t even know and about whom he never had a conversation with his brother in the first place.
For Mark, it’s a hate-hate relationship.
Mark’s brother was accepted by Frostburg University. His parents dropped him off there before the first week of school. Mark’s brother went to his first day of classes.
And then it was back to the usual order of business – drinking, drinking, drinking.
A week ago, his bro had to get back to Baltimore for a court-date regarding an alcohol citation. Hiding this from his parents, Mark’s brother had his girlfriend drive him from Frostburg to Baltimore, then back. Sadly, his girlfriend’s car broke down and they had to spend the night at Mark’s parents. I don’t quite know the story, but his parents apparently caught the two having relations on their very expensive pool table (without bothering to put down the pool table cover first). Coupled with his admission of the alcohol citation, Mark’s bro and Mark’s father got into a very loud screaming match which eventually ended with Mark’s bro stealing one of his parents’ cars and heading back to Frostburg, leaving a naked and embarassed girlfriend on the pool table.
A week or so go past and Mark is awoken in the middle of the night by his parents and sister calling: they haven’t spoken to the younger brother and are worried about him. This culminates in a drive to Frostburg where they find two things: their car, and the brother – drunk out of his mind and trying to rush a frat. They also find out he hasn’t been to class since the first day.
The parents decide – enough is enough! If he wants to go out and get drunk and piss his life away, fine, but not on our dollar! The ridiculousness of this statement will become apparent in a moment.
“Want to know what they’re having him do?” Mark asked me, a smile spreading across his face.
“Makin’ him join the Marine Corps?” I queried.
“Nope. They’re getting him an apartment. Right next to mine.”
Mark, of course, not thrilled about this particular development. He elaborated that his parents are paying his brother’s rent for five months, at which point he needs to find a roomate. He’s still got this stupid grin on his face, and I asked about it.
Mark, who isn’t exactly trouble free, elaborated: he’s getting excellent grades, and hasn’t had any (serious) trouble with the law in several months. He’s hoping to play on these achievements and get his parents to reward him with a plasma television.
A big one.