Some friendships aren’t meant to work out long-term. Whether it’s due to a lack of shared interests, conflicts, or other reasons, friendships end all the time. It hurts, sure, but like any relationship, you shouldn’t force it. This is why a man from Oregon was shocked when he heard from a friend after two decades asking him for a huge favor. It wasn’t anything substantial. You know, just a few thousand dollars to get back on his feet. Imagine having that one thrown at you after so many years of radio silence!
The post was captioned “AIO Friend calls after 20+ years” on r/AmIOverreacting. OP said he was on an east coast road trip with his 12-year-old son and received a phone call from an old friend he hadn’t heard from in over 20 years at 10:30 p.m. at night. He and his friend don’t have a lot of contact and they “maybe talk once every 3 years.” He also added he doesn’t know much about his old friend’s current life because they speak so infrequently.
When OP decides to answer the call, he never suspects what he hears. His friend tells him that he’s in a bad financial place while his wife is pregnant with their second child. He said he hasn’t had a stable income in several months and has been charging everything to his credit card. Not to mention, he was two months behind on his mortgage. He also explains to OP that his wife doesn’t know how poor their financial situation is. OP tries to point him in the right direction with financial options and job opportunities. Meanwhile, this is happening while he’s on vacation with his son.
It was during this desperate encounter OP’s old friend explained he isn’t exactly asking for advice. The “friend,” who OP barely has any lasting relationship with, is asking for an outstanding $15,000. Apparently, there’s a loan shark after him, too. When OP asked him for his mortgage documents so he could get a better idea of his financial situation, his friend fessed up and said his house is already paid off. So, the whole behind-on-mortgage excuse was a lie. Now, rightfully, OP’s questioning everything his friend told him.
OP decided to call a mutual friend they both had so he could ask him some questions. Apparently, the old friend was asking about OP and the success he’s been having with his business behind OP’s back. As OP put it, “I got really weirded out” and now he doesn’t “know what to believe” concerning the situation.
Commenters believe he could be attempting to con money out of OP for his own benefit or many other sinister scenarios. Maybe he really does have a loan shark after him and his life is being threatened. One commenter said, “For sure sounds like the behavior of someone in a state of desperation. Drugs, gambling, lying or whatever he did to get himself there is his own hole to dig himself out of.”
OP replied, “I’ve heard a wise man once say… ‘if your wife, who sleeps right next to you and knows you best, can’t trust you… how can I?’ This has changed the way I carry out friendships.” I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment. I hope OP protects his well-being. This “friend” is clearly trying to take advantage of him.
