They have turned their backs on humanity

I have a friend, let's call her Cheriee.

Well, she's a good person, and she makes quite a bit of money, she's a hard worker and although she says:

"At the first sight of DRAMA I am OUTTA HERE!"

Ha ha, very funny Cheriee! You have problems, admit it!

No, I don't, and I'm not going to admit it, because admitting it would mean I have to FEEL things I don't want to feel! I am perfect the way I am.

You're self centered and rude is what you are Cheriee!

No I'm not! I have a lot of things I care about that have nothing to do with money!

That's a lie and you know it!

Why are you never idle?

Because if I were, I'd have to think about things I don't want to think about, besides, money makes the world go around!

I thought it was love made the world go around?

Well, you thought wrong, because people are in it for themselves!

So, you're telling me you're in it for yourself?

Yeah, I guess so, but that doesn't mean I don't love other things or people!

Well, do you realize it makes you appear as if you don't care about anything but money?

Oh, Cheriee Cheriee! I'm sad for you! You are by far too smart for this! You have a bigger heart than you want others to know about, is that true?

Maybe.. I just don't like DRAMA! I like to be happy all the time, and I have to make money to live you know!

Yes, I know Cheriee, but you have four kids, are you going to tell them you don't want to hear things when they are down, and need someone to talk to?

No, I wouldn't do that to one of my kids!

You said I was the best friend you ever had, and been there when you needed me, so if I need you does this mean you're not going to be here for me?

Don't be silly, you're my best friend, how could I turn my back on you!?!?

I feel like you could, because there's been times I needed you, but didn't want to dump on you because I know you don't like to hear "drama." But we were in school plays together, remember what fun we had doing "DRAMA?"

Yea, but that was school, this is real life, and I don't have time to play tit-for-tat games in real life!

Well, you make me feel as if you've used me for what you wanted and not cared when I'm down!

I'm sorry you feel that way, but there's more important things in life than whining about the bad things, get up and do something to make your life more positive!

You don't think I'm a positive person?

Sure I do, I think you're funny, witty, and have a silly since of sarcasm, we have a lot of fun together!

I know, yeah, you're right about that, I love doing fun things with you, like when we go out shopping, I especially love going with you shopping for the kids school clothes and necessities! But is that all there is to our relationship?

NO, don't be ridiculous! Of course there's more to our friendship than shopping! What about all the fun times we had going out clubbing, and remember I dropped my credit card and it fell in a drain pipe while we were in line.. hahaha, that was fun!

Yeah, that was funny, and luckily we got it out with gum on a string huh! But what about when my dog died and I was alone and cried for days, and you were too busy to talk?

Well, it's just a dog, you could of gotten another one!

But I was sad, and I needed to talk to you about it, and you wouldn't listen!

I wouldn't listen because I didn't want to have to be sad too!

You realize Cheriee that by saying that you make me sad about our friendship too don't you?

Ok, yeah so losing my dog was a traumatic thing for me, and I needed you to listen, not tell me to get another dog! I loved my dog, sure I can get another, but it doesn't replace how I felt about that dog!

You're doing it again, you're trying to make me feel things I don't want to feel!

Oh.. sad?

Yes! I don't want to feel sad for you or your losing your dog! I'm sorry you lost your dog, but crying over it isn't going to bring it back!

I know, but somehow I feel like talking about it helps me get over it.

Just get over it and move on to something new!

I'm trying... but money isn't everything, it can't buy you happiness!

It can sure help! It's kept me busy and you don't see me crying over spilled milk!

Cheriee, I don't think you cry over anything, and if you do, you wouldn't let anyone know! You try to hide your sad days from me, but I've known you your whole life and know you don't like when others know you're sad.

Yeah big deal! I want to be happy and make money! That's it! I have things I need and things I want!

You have a big bank account, that's what you have!

Yeah, and your's isn't exactly empty either you know!

I know, but I get what I need and I don't have to ask for help or I never ask you for money!

Well, you know if you needed it, that I would lend or give you money! Our friendship isn't based on how much money either one of us have!

No, I know that. But that's not the issue here! Sometimes I just want to talk about things that hurt me!

You've got to forget what hurts you and you've got to focus on other things, like, remember you wanted to get that room painted, I said I wanted to help, did you get the paint yet?

Yes, I got the paint, it's a pretty shade of green. I can't decide if I want a light green wall and dark green boarder or the other way around.

When you decide, let me know and I'll help you get it painted, we'll have fun! Can the kids help?

Oh sure, I'd love if the kids helped, plus it'd be a good memory for me! When I look at the room finished I'll remember how much fun we had doing it together!

Why does everything have to be so deep? Can't you just consider it DONE, AND PAINTED?

No... I like to associate things I've accomplished with good things, you said I should be more positive, don't you think that's being positive?

Yeah, I guess you're right, and it'll give the kids a good memory too I suppose.

So, let me get this straight... you're agreeing with me, but still not admitting that sometimes bad memories are there, you can't just have all good memories, is that healthy for the kids?

Wow, I didn't realize I thought that way, do you think I have cut the kids out of letting them mourn when old Pop Pop died, after all they didn't know him, so they didn't cry or anything.

Yeah, Cheriee, I do think you cut the kids out of mourning Pop Pop, and I think you should of explained to them that when old people are sick sometimes they die and it's a part of life.

I never thought of it like that. Do you think I'm not letting them express their sad feelings?

To an extent, yes, I'm glad you don't over emphasize sadness to them, after all I do want them to grow up happy, I love seeing their smiling faces!

I just didn't want them to obsess over death and sadness!

At some point Cheriee, the kids are going to lose someone, and they should be able to express how they feel, having feelings bottled up can hurt them later in life! I don't want that for them, do you see what I mean?

Yes, I do. I'm sorry I was inattentive when you needed me after your dog died. Forgive me?

Yes, I forgive you, you're my friend, and I appreciate you let me talk to you about this, this far!

Ok ok ok! I understand! I'm sorry! Next time something bad happens to you, I'm going to stand by you I promise!

Thank you! I really needed to hear that you know! I didn't want you to go through life keeping things bottled up inside. ... Um.. like when Will had his indiscretion?

You're really getting it out of me... yes, that is one reason I stay busy, shop and try hard not to let it bother me. If I think about it too much I get sad, and you know I hate that, and I don't think he'll do it again, he promised it was a one time thing!

Are you sure about that, if he did it once and you let it go, why wouldn't he do it again?

You're going to force me to think about this aren't you?

Yes Cheriee I am, because I care about you, and I don't want to see you go through life sad and pushing things that matter away from your thoughts! There's more to life than money, remember when I said I thought "love" made the world go round? Do you think he was thinking of how you'd feel when he did that to you?

No, apparently I was the last thought on his mind!

Well, I'm not trying to make you sad, I just want you to wake up! I don't want you wondering when it'll happen again or IF it'll happen again!

You know, I'm glad you're making me think, because I'm going to make sure either it never happens again, or maybe.... do you think I should dump him and find someone who wouldn't cheat?

Well Cheriee, you have 4 kids with Will, and we've all been friends a long time, so I can't make that decision for you, it's something you have to decide on your own!

I never wanted to think about it again... but for all I know he could be cheating again and I'm not paying attention.

True, do you think he is? I mean, he's supposed to be home from work by 6pm and it's now 8. Where do you think he is?

I don't know I was busy getting the kids dinner while we talked on the phone! I hadn't noticed the time!

Well, let's hang up and you call him and find out if he's on his way or working over time. If he doesn't pick up, I'll be here for you if you need to talk ok.

Thanks, yeah, I'm going to get the kids ready for bed then call him if he's not home by the time they get to sleep.

Well, if he comes home, I think you should ask him where he was.

I will.

Listen to the sound of his response Cheriee, you know him very well, or at least you thought you did at one time, so why don't you go with your gut feeling of where he is! Call me back if you need to, but remember I'm here for you regardless, because you're my friend and I care how you feel, I love you.

I love you too, and thank you. If I don't feel good about the call I'll be calling you back, and this time if it's bad, I'm going to need your shoulder is that going to be ok, you're not going to be mad?

Of course not! I'm going to stand beside you in whatever decision you make. I'm not going to judge you just as I didn't when it happened before. I just want you to be happy because you're my friend and I care.

Thank you. I'm going to let you know one way or the other, and thank you for being there my whole life! I love you. Gooodbye.

I love you too Cheriee, goodbye.