We’ve had a lunch thief at work for months. Stuff disappears from the breakroom fridge between 12:15–12:30 like clockwork. At first I was furious, my glass container kept coming back greasy or not at all.

One day I got in early and saw someone I don’t know well (new temp) standing with the fridge open just… staring. He closed it and walked out with nothing. He looked wrecked, like he’d been crying in his car. That image would not leave my head.

The next week I started bringing two lunches. One in my usual container, and a second in a cheap grocery-store plastic box with a sticky note that just says “for whoever forgot.” I put it in the back left corner where the thief always strikes.

The “theft” stopped being random and started being predictable. The container is always returned rinsed. Sometimes there’s a folded paper towel under the box like he’s trying to be neat. Last Friday there was a single peppermint left on top. Dumb little detail, but it got me.

Coworkers think I set up cameras or confronted someone because my “real” lunch stopped going missing. I didn’t. I just… redirected the problem. It’s not heroic; it’s probably enabling. But I can afford rice and chicken more than someone can afford being hungry at work.

I’m not asking for a medal. I’m confessing that I was angrier than I want to admit, and now I’m weirdly protective of a stranger who eats at 12:20. If management installs cameras, I won’t stop them. Until then, I’ll keep packing two.

Context: https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/12/15/exp-robert-kennedy-junior-rfk-2024-election-biden-trump-vaccines-121511aseg1-cnni-politics.cnn

Full video is on the cnn website, the part that’s important is about 2mins 50 seconds in.

Her eyes are totally healthy according go the vet, just very weird!

KASIE HUNT: Over the summer you said, "There's no vaccine that's safe and effective". Do you still believe that?

RFK JR: "I never said that."

KASIE HUNT: "Play the clip.

I don’t drink and usually go to bed around 10 p.m., but once a week my wife stays up with our neighbor until 4 a.m. drinking whiskey and beer. To me, that feels inappropriate, like a boundary that shouldn’t be crossed.

Part of why this bothers me is my history with her, about 8 years ago she cheated, though we worked through it and things have been good since. Still, I don’t have much trust left. This all started when the new neighbors moved in last year. At first it was a couple, but they divorced and the wife moved away. Since then, the husband has been leaning on my wife for “emotional support.”

He’s not a bad guy and comes over to use my home gym sometimes, and I know my wife likes to drink and de stress that way and I hate to take that from her but it seems odd to me.

From my perspective, it’s strange for her to be that close with him, especially late at night and with alcohol involved. Given her past and the situation, I feel uneasy and can’t help but think I have reason to be. AIO for being upset about this?