Stuck in the middle...

[xpineygirl]

HELP! ok heres the situation...

A friend of mine, Jess, started staying with another friend of mine, Reta, a couple months ago. A few weeks later reta found out jess had stolen some money from her and kicked her out of the house. Jess left and went to live with her parents but when she did left a load of her stuff there with Retas permission and is now trying to get it back. Reta is saying that there is nothing of Jess's in her house and is understandable extremly mad at Jess but on the other hand everything that Jess owned other than some clothes and toiletries were in those boxes.

I'm still friends with both of them and am trying to sort out this whole situation but it's tough since I'm stuck in the middle completely and don't want to take sides.

You see Jess has a history of mental illness and as a teen did have some problems with Kleptomania. Also resently she was raped and I have a feeling that this caused her to mentally digress in the mental illness areas. Although I feel Reta is right in being mad as a good friend of hers took something while she was helping them out I can't help but feel for Jess knowing her history.

I'm trying to figure out how to sort all of this out but have yet to make any headway. Jess admitted to stealing as soon as she was confronted, returned the money, and did return to therepy to get help for that and some other things. But the amount that Jess stole (it was like $40 not that that makes it right, it's just not that much in comparrison...) is nowhere near the amout that Jess's things are worth and that's not including the things that are irreplaceable like pictures and poetry that she wrote.

If anyone has any ideas on what I should do please let me know. Otherwise Jess says she's going to call the police and I honestly don't want to be stuck in the middle of something like that.

Thanks!

Joey

[KittylovingBlond]

Hmmm sounds like some real drama going on there. You are exactly like you said, stuck in the middle. However, there's no reason for you to be involved in any way. You can be a friend to both parties by remaining friendly and being supportive to each of them. I'm sure you have some opinions about the situation, but if you are really invested in both friendships, I suggest you keep them to yourself. This matter is between them, and really has nothing to do with you. I know you'd like to help, and I'm sure you'd love to see your friends reconcile, but that may or may not happen. Your job is to listen, be understanding, and possibly mediate if they ask you to. Otherwise, stay out of it and let the chips fall where they may.

Good luck!