One for the "No good deed goes unpunished" file

After coming off a month that my brother, Roger, made his highest commissions to date, he asked me if I knew anyone who might like to make some good money while working part time. I shocked him when I suggested, "Mark."

"Really?" he asked, dismayed by my choice.

"He is very passionate about things in his life, get him to take the crusade in his heart and I bet he can do well," I told Roger.

"You really think I should contact him?" Roger asked, wanting to be sure I wasn't kidding.

"Yeah, I know, all the bad blood for years now, but every time he's done something terrible to me I've always remained concerned about his future. Probably my biggest weakness," I stated.

"Okay, I'll contact him," my brother said closing the subject for the moment.

The matter left my mind until the following night when I got an email from my brother saying that he contacted Mark and that it looks like a simple apology will set things straight. Recalling how Mark had threatened me dozens of times over the years, the never ending harassment and the stalker style behavior over a situation that he never defined, I just responded, "Okay, I'd be willing to accept his apology."

But no, that was when I was clued in that Mark expects ME to apologize to him! To make the comedy complete Mark even made his "friendship" seem like some golden badge that needed to be earned, telling my brother that the two of them can never be friends until I apologized to Mark. I died laughing at the rantings of an obvious lunatic. The funny part was my brother had no intention of contacting this loose-cannon if I didn't suggest it. So now he blew a great business opportunity and a second chance at friendship. Brilliant.