This is weird

There is a woman in my church who has been very faithful in attending and participating. She has a rather difficult life, since her two oldest sons (ages 14 and 15) have begun to go the wrong way; they both have plenty of negative influences and few positive ones. I met the younger of the two when I was hanging out in the neighborhood, and I had heard about the older one from his mom, but I couldn't match the name with the face (everybody on the street has a nickname, which makes them hard to identify). When those three guys tried to forcibly take my car a few weeks ago, I thought the oldest and biggest of the three was her older son, but I didn't know for sure, since he was using a different name.

I've talked to the mom at church a few times, and Bob told me to call her, so I did. She talked to me for a little bit and got my phone number, and then she handed the phone to her son who, sure enough, was the big guy who had mugged me a few weeks ago. He reminded me who he was (don't ask me why!), and then he just tried to engage in small talk. He asked me, in the customary way, about women in my life, using unfortunate terminology and imagery that I cannot publish here. Of course, I gave him the same answers that I had given many times before to the same types of questions. The conversation was brief, surreal.

I haven't told his mom that he was involved because I don't want her to feel bad. I don't harbor much ill will toward him, and I certainly don't have any hard feelings toward his mom. Maybe reconciliation is in the future, although I will demand an apology from him first. I certainly don't want to burn any bridges. His little brother hasn't gone as far as he has, and his mom and Bob both believe that the brother needs "guidance." Maybe this is another opportunity?