Sopranos, hold the Mafia
Let's suppose your father, on his death, left you, your brother and your sister a beach house. Over the years you've all managed to enjoy the property, with only minimal tension over upkeep, time-sharing, and paying taxes. Now, twenty five years later, you are in retirement, slowing down due to aging, but the three of you still own this property, debt free, which has accrued in value to quite an amazing degree: from $25,000 when your dad purchased it in 1970 to $600,000 today. You don't have much actual money, only a modest pension, your own residence. This is sort of your insurance policy for an emergency.
All nice, right? Now, let's complicate things. Suppose your brother has a gambling problem that gets better and worse over the years. Suppose further that he suffers from chronic depression, bipolar disorder, and has a sort of "Jackie Gleason" syndrome: every few years he falls for get-rich-quick schemes. Not only do these schemes never work, they always manage to leave him poorer than when he started off.
Now, let's REALLY complicate matters. Suppose your daughter is married to EVIL FUCK, a guy who has turned screwing people out of their life savings into an art form. So evil that none of his brothers will speak to him, because of all the times he has conned them and made their lives miserable. Over the years, your daughter has had four children with this guy. She once had her own career but now has been worn down by said EVIL FUCK. She is the perfect enabler: always finds excuses for her husband's behavior. It is always someone else's fault. Deep down she knows her life is miserable, but how will she ever support four children on her own? Plus, the EVIL FUCK has at least provided a million dollar home over her head, your daughter probably thinks. She always was selfish and fairly materialistic.
Now, imagine that EVIL FUCK's luck has been running dry of late, and he is having problems making mortgage payments. You here all about this. You despise him, but pity your daughter. You tell EVIL FUCK that if he loses the house, he can move his family into the beach house. EVIL FUCK however has a counterproposal: why not take a mortgage out on the house instead, and just give him the money. That way, he can actually use the cash to get back on his feet and support your daughter.
You refuse. Things quiet down. Months later, you note that the house is still in their possession. Was EVIL FUCK conning you? You doubt it. EVIL FUCK seems to have no visible source of income. Must have conned someone else in the meantime.
Or, so you thought. Because last Friday, your bipolar, Jackie Gleason like brother drops a bombshell: A year ago, he took a mortgage out on the beach house, because he felt bad for EVIL FUCK and your daughter. EVIL FUCK swore he would pay back the loan. He did make nine payments. However, he has missed the last three, and gullible bipolar brother has been having to pay out of his own pocket...however, he can't do it for much longer, and fears that eventually the beach house might be lost.
By the way, bipolar brother forged your signature and that of your sister, to get the mortgage for EVIL FUCK. He knew you would never agree to it otherwise, but also wouldn't want to see your daughter thrown out on the street.
One final complication: bipolar brother still runs your father's family business, which does not support you, but does support your sister's family (her husband works for your brother, and isn't bright enough to run the business himself). Also, you fear that EVIL FUCK will cut you off from seeing your grandchildren if you try to do anything to him. For all you know, EVIL FUCK does have organized crime connections (so maybe we shouldn't hold the Mafia).
QUESTION: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
All nice, right? Now, let's complicate things. Suppose your brother has a gambling problem that gets better and worse over the years. Suppose further that he suffers from chronic depression, bipolar disorder, and has a sort of "Jackie Gleason" syndrome: every few years he falls for get-rich-quick schemes. Not only do these schemes never work, they always manage to leave him poorer than when he started off.
Now, let's REALLY complicate matters. Suppose your daughter is married to EVIL FUCK, a guy who has turned screwing people out of their life savings into an art form. So evil that none of his brothers will speak to him, because of all the times he has conned them and made their lives miserable. Over the years, your daughter has had four children with this guy. She once had her own career but now has been worn down by said EVIL FUCK. She is the perfect enabler: always finds excuses for her husband's behavior. It is always someone else's fault. Deep down she knows her life is miserable, but how will she ever support four children on her own? Plus, the EVIL FUCK has at least provided a million dollar home over her head, your daughter probably thinks. She always was selfish and fairly materialistic.
Now, imagine that EVIL FUCK's luck has been running dry of late, and he is having problems making mortgage payments. You here all about this. You despise him, but pity your daughter. You tell EVIL FUCK that if he loses the house, he can move his family into the beach house. EVIL FUCK however has a counterproposal: why not take a mortgage out on the house instead, and just give him the money. That way, he can actually use the cash to get back on his feet and support your daughter.
You refuse. Things quiet down. Months later, you note that the house is still in their possession. Was EVIL FUCK conning you? You doubt it. EVIL FUCK seems to have no visible source of income. Must have conned someone else in the meantime.
Or, so you thought. Because last Friday, your bipolar, Jackie Gleason like brother drops a bombshell: A year ago, he took a mortgage out on the beach house, because he felt bad for EVIL FUCK and your daughter. EVIL FUCK swore he would pay back the loan. He did make nine payments. However, he has missed the last three, and gullible bipolar brother has been having to pay out of his own pocket...however, he can't do it for much longer, and fears that eventually the beach house might be lost.
By the way, bipolar brother forged your signature and that of your sister, to get the mortgage for EVIL FUCK. He knew you would never agree to it otherwise, but also wouldn't want to see your daughter thrown out on the street.
One final complication: bipolar brother still runs your father's family business, which does not support you, but does support your sister's family (her husband works for your brother, and isn't bright enough to run the business himself). Also, you fear that EVIL FUCK will cut you off from seeing your grandchildren if you try to do anything to him. For all you know, EVIL FUCK does have organized crime connections (so maybe we shouldn't hold the Mafia).
QUESTION: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?