I was waiting nervously for the office to clear out. Once it was clear, I pulled out my sleeping bag that I had hidden in one of the unused cabinets.
It was 2 weeks ago that I became homeless. Well it really started 6 months earlier. I was in a long term relationship with Jane and we decided to get our own place. It was going to be a lot more expensive but if we pooled our resources we could afford to rent our own place. We were doing well and making ends meet. But when you move in together you notice things you never did before. The truth is I was a bit of a slob. I did not clean up much and I played video games most of the time. 2 months after moving in together we would often get into arguments and it was usually due to my behaviour.
As you can predict we ended up breaking up. The only problem was the lease was on my sole name and I was stuck with paying it. But I was not earning enough to live there so I skipped a couple of months' rent and I was duly evicted. And now here I am sleeping in the office mail room.
My biggest problem is that I never graduated high school. If you come from the Indian community you will know the shame that this would bring on most parents.
I was raised by my grandparents as my parents died a few months after I was born. My grandparents were elderly and I left high school to look after them.
But the problem with no education no matter the noble reason for not completing it is that it limits the jobs you can work in. So I found myself working in the mail room of the finance firm and sleeping on the floor at night.
I was getting down to sleep when I all of a sudden heard the lights come on. The lights are motion sensor triggered and I panicked. If I was caught I would be fired. I hoped it was someone picking up a file they forgot.
I tried to remain as quiet as possible. I moved slightly back to try and hide under the table just in case someone felt the need to enter the mail room. But in doing so I knocked the table and it produced a bang sound.
I mouthed to myself, "You bloody idiot."
I froze as I heard the person all of a sudden stop walking. They then began walking towards the mail room, "Hello? Is anybody there? I am calling security."
I panicked and I got up hitting my head against the table and letting out an audible "Ouch."
The light in the mail room came on and in walked the CEO, Shannon McTierney. Shannon was late 30's and she was known as a tough fiery redhead. I thought that was it, I would not survive this.
She looked shocked, "Mother of God. You scared the bejeesus out of me. What are you still doing here?"
She had a slight Irish twang in her accent. She then noticed the sleeping bag and her tone was sterner as she asked, "What is your name?"
She clearly did not have time to learn the names of the nobody's in the post room but at least she recognised my face, "Anand, Miss."
She looked at me sternly and said, "Get your things and come with me."
She seemed irate and said, "Do you know how many laws you have broken? This is breaking and entering. Trespassing. I will take you to the police station myself."
I followed her to her car in the parking lot. I thought about running but she had all of my details. I did not want to make it worse. I was desperate to find a way out and I tried to beg for mercy. I'm not proud to admit this but there were tears in my eyes. As she began to drive I began to cry and told her my story about my parents and being evicted. I told her I was only 20 and trying to find my way. She seemed to ignore my pleas and said, "You are an adult now though."
We got to the Police Station and I was still bawling my eyes out. I began hyperventilating. She looked at me with pity and finally said, "I won't report you but you cannot do that again. Where do your grandparents live?"
She put her hand on my shoulder calming me down and I was still sniffing and said, "They died last year."
She asked, "Do you have anywhere else to go? I can't leave you on the streets."
I said, "Ma'am I have nowhere else to go. I am happy to sleep on the streets if it means not going to prison."
She looked at me with sympathy and held my hand, "I will help you tonight but tomorrow you need to find a place to live."
I expected Shannon to drop me off at work to sleep in the mail room but she was driving into a suburb and parked in a drive to a large house.
I looked at her in surprise. She said, "I have a spare room and you can stay here tonight but tomorrow you will need to leave. But you must not mention this at work."
I was overjoyed and I could not hide the smile. She didn't seem pleased with the arrangement and seemed to be doing it out of sympathy.
She took me to my room, "You can take this room. It was my son's but he is living in Berlin now. Don't get comfortable, you need to leave tomorrow."
I looked around the room and her son seemed to be the same age as me. His room seemed to be stuck from his teen years. He listened to similar music. Indy Rock. He had similar video games. I had to find a way to stay here as long as possible and knowing Shannon had a son my age who was no longer living with her gave me an opportunity.
I learned my lesson from my last flat mate to not be a selfish slob and especially in these circumstances I wanted Shannon to have no reason to throw me out. I had to find a way to stay as long as possible.
I went to bed pleased to have a bed to sleep in rather than a sleeping bag. In the morning I woke up early and cleaned up the room and got my things ready to leave although I planned on finding a way to stay. I then also cooked breakfast for Shannon and brought it to her in bed.
I knocked on her door and said, "I am sorry if I woke you. I cooked breakfast for you just to say thank you for last night."
I could hear her stir and she said, "I will be down in a few minutes."
I said, "I have brought it up for you so you could have breakfast in bed. I can leave it outside."
She seemed slightly groggy as she had just woken up, "It is ok. Just bring it in."
I opened the door and walked in. To my surprise Shannon looked absolutely beautiful. She always had her hair in a bun at work and had a stern reputation but her red hair was flowing and she looked beautiful. The slight freckles on her cheeks were more obvious without the make-up. She was a natural beauty. She was wearing a negligee that showed off her beautiful cleavage. It was out of place and revealed more than it usually would. I could not take my eyes off her.
I was struck for a second and must have looked dumbfounded when she interrupted me and said, "Well?"
She sat up and I put the tray in front of her. I had made a granola and yoghurt breakfast and also a smoothie. I used what I could find in the kitchen. She said, "Not much cooking then."
I was nervous and said, "I am sorry I just put it together from what I could find."
She laughed at my nervousness, "Thank you. It is very thoughtful."
I was at the doorway when I asked, "Can I ask a favour?"
She looked up and said, "Not turning you into the Police and the free bed not enough?"
I didn't mean to seem ungrateful, "I am sorry. I just want to find an apartment today but they are across town. Can you drive me?"
She let me stir for a minute and then said, "I will if it means getting you out of my hair."
We went later in the morning. I had deliberately picked viewings that either I would not be approved for or I was hoping she would not be pleased with.
The first viewing was in an upscale area and was a shared apartment. I wanted to involve Shannon in the process and asked her for her opinions. I was spending the day with her and I hoped it would give us an opportunity to open up.
She was pleased with the apartment but we both knew it was out of my price range and I failed the credit check as expected.
The next apartment was in a seedier part of town and I hoped she would object. I asked her for her opinions and she wasn't enthusiastic about it but seemed to agree that it was all I was likely to afford. It was a cockroach and rat infested apartment and was not fit for human habitation. I passed the credit check but Shannon felt uncomfortable in the apartment and did not like it. Before I signed the agreement Shannon said we should see the last apartment before we agree anything.
On the drive to the next apartment Shannon said she did not want me to take the second apartment as it seemed to be more trouble than it was worth. The drive to the next apartment was long and it gave us an opportunity to talk. Shannon began to open up as we talked about the apartments. I then asked about her son and if she helped him find an apartment in Berlin. She just said, "It was complicated. I don't think he appreciated me making these decisions for him so he left for Berlin to study."