:: Electric Psychedelic Pussycat Swinger's Club ::

:: Saturday, July 03, 2004 ::

I don't know where to begin, so let's just begin.

Having a younger sister can be a difficult responsibility - one that I never asked to bear. But i've taken on that yoke nonetheless and have been plowing through unfarmable soil for the past twenty-two years.

My sister flew into nyc two nights ago from Rome, by way of Paris. She scheduled her flight so that when her five month program abroad ended, she would stop off here to visit for two weeks. No less than two nights later we are in the middle of a God damn club fighting.

I suppose it's better to start from another beginning.

Due to work, I haven't been able to spend as much time with my sister these past two days as I would have liked to. To make it up to her, we went to a pizza & board game night hosted by one of my female friends. We ate, drank and were merry. Moreover, the game, Cranium, turned out to be pretty fun! Needless to say, drinking enough wine and beer can turn the friendliest of games into a death match. People were out for blood.

Everyone had plenty to drink, but a few people suggested we go to a casual lounge/club where there was: a) no cover; b) good music; and c) dancing. This is where shit goes awry.

Originally there was a group of about twelve (12) of us; six (6) guys and six (6) girls [including my little sister and I]. Everyone had a good time, but as it got late four (4) of the girls went home, leaving six guys, and two girls - one being my sister. Well the friend who hosted the game night wanted to leave with one of the guys (her boyfriend) and so then we all decided to bail. (are you with me so far?)

So then one dude suggested the rest of us go to one of those lame asian lounges and drink some more. I was tired and ready to leave, but seeing as how my sister wanted to continue partying I said it was fine with me if she went with them because she seemed sober at the time. So that would ultimately leave my little sister hanging out with four (4) guys she just met.

Initially I was a little reluctant because this was only her 2nd night ever in ny, but I asked and she claimed to be perfectly sober. Seeing as how I wanted her to have fun while she was here, I gave my blessing and asked her to be safe. As I was leaving the club, game host friend approaches me and tells me if she were her sister, she would not leave her with those guys.

Now keep in mind, I have generally only hung out with some of these dudes a couple of times and they seem like okay cats - the others I had just met. I wasn't too worried about that. However, when her boyfriend informed me that they bought her "several" drinks and that she didn't seem in complete control, that's when I felt uneasy. According to him, at one point she was uncoordinated enough that she dropped and shattered her glass all over the floor. Upon hearing this, I went back in to double-check if she really was sober, and with all the warnings whispered in my ear by game host girl, I suggested to my sister that we should just call it an early night and go out another time. It was already almost two in the morning anyway, i said.

But asking nicely doesn't seem to get through thick heads like hers. She kept insisting she was fine (this time I could tell she wasn't) and basically refused to go home. She kept asking why and I must have repeated myself at least five times to her, and that's not something you want to be subjected to when my throat is completely parched and dry spit is flying out of my face as I'm shouting over the music. I tried to reason with her:

"Listen, at first I was okay with you hanging out with these guys, but now that I see the real shape you're in, I don't think that's such a good idea. You're drunk, in a strange city, and the only girl in a group of guys you just met - heck, that I JUST MET!".

"I'M TWENTY-TWO!", she screamed. "YOU CAN'T CONTROL ME!".

I could see this was going nowhere and the tears started to well up in her eyes. She wasn't budging, even after I apologetically asked those guys to go ahead, that my sister drank too much and that I didn't feel comfortable letting her go in her condition.

"FUCK OFF!", she screamed. Me? 'Fuck off', aye? She's definitely going nowhere fast. And although it seemed these guys understood, they weren't helping by lagging around.

This stand-off lasted for a total of at least an hour, and through it all, none of the guys left - including the game host girl's boyfriend and game host girl. She was concerned and tried to explain to my sister what the score was, but I wasn't the only one she wasn't listening to.

Finally, I got everyone to help out by leaving without us. But before that happened, this fucking indian cunt had the audacity to give my sister his number before we left - DESPITE witnessing all this grief.

Needless to say, the walk to the subway and the ride itself was in complete silence, with the exception of four ghetto hoodrats riding in the train with us. I noticed these fuckers staring at my sister the whole ride and had a hunch they'd try to do something. Sure enough, one comes over and asks if his friend can talk to her. Stupid girl doesn't say anything, and in nyc, the lack of defensiveness/aggressiveness in such situations is an open invite for more harrassment. Holmes comes back with his 'friend' and they start rappin' their weak game to her, right across from me. She was obviously uncomfortable, but part of me figures she's not saying anything to get me upset.

"YO, THAT'S MY KID SISTER, MAN", I calmly (but firmly) state. And that was enough to get them to apologise and back the fuck off.

So now we're finally home. It's 3:32 AM and she's fast asleep. We still haven't spoken to each other since leaving the club, and I prefer it that way; no sense in arguing with a cranium influenced by alcohol. If you've read this far, I'm impressed (and thankful). I guess I'm just really pissed off right now for having been relegated the role of '[dickhead]big brother', especially when all I wanted to do was show her a good time. Instead, that sister of mine takes it as a sign that i don't trust her, or that I'm trying to 'control her life'. I can't even control my pathetic existence; how [and why] would I want to take on hers?

F that. I don't need this shit. I don't want the responsibility of watching after her and making sure nothing bad happens; it's too cumbersome. But that's not something I have a choice in. I've tried to explain that I'm ALWAYS going to be her big brother and it has nothing to do with making her decisions for her. It has to do with loving her and taking care of her drunk ass whenever she's not fit enough to do it herself. She's a smart girl and I respect her judgment, much like my parents do. Just not when it's impaired.

So of course, she's upset with me and if she still remembers why she got so mad tomorrow morning, I think it'll affect how enjoyable the rest of the time here will be.

So i turn to you guys: did I do the right thing?

After last night, I dont even want her here anymore. I wish she'd just stay with my aunt and spare me the burden of dealing with shit like this again.

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