Chillin’ with Annie…

Back when I was working at the call center a few years ago, I had a good friend who I hung out with named Annie. She was a very nice person and we hung out at work and socialized often. We’re just good friends and prefer to keep it that way and I didn’t see much of her after the center let me go. That Bond wedding I attended in August after my big break up that I had so much fun at was by Annie’s invite, I was her plus one.

Last week after I did a comedy show, I had decided to walk home because it wasn’t that cold and I needed to get some fresh air. As I was walking up the hill, I bumped into Annie who was walking down the hill as I was walking up to get back to my place. I said hello and asked how she was doing. The last I checked she was sharing an appartment in the same building where Leah and the kids are living. That was not the case anymore and I couldn’t help but ask where she was heading. Annie wasn’t able to give me an answer.

While the weather wasn’t as bad as our winter’s usually are, I couldn’t help but as Annie the obvious question that crossed my mind: do you have any place to stay tonight? The answer was no, at the moment Annie was homeless. Her family lives in Toronto, so it’s hard for her to get back and forth between here and there so without hesitation, I offered her a place to stay: the fouton in my living room.

While not the most comfortable accomodations in the city, it sure beat staying outside in the cold. We walked back up the hill to my place where I tossed a frozen pizza in the oven and let her eat most of it. Annie has been staying with me since that day, and since the snow outside is finally building up, I have no intentions of forcing her to fend for herself out there. Friends don’t do that to friends.

She’s a good friend and I’ve never had any reason not to trust her. She’s proven thus far that the trust I have in her is well earned. My brother freaked out but I knew better. She’s kept to herself mostly, slept a lot, but has helped out around the appartment which has made things easier on me since I’m working again.

It’s been nice to have someone around to talk to as well. The appartment was very quiet at times when the kids were not here and her company has made things a little easier just to have someone to hang out with again. The last few weeks have been a little easier, a little less stressful so I can clearly say she’s not the only one who’s getting something out of this arrangement.

Regardless, the idea of leaving a friend on the streets in winter to fend for themselves isn’t something that even crossed my mind. But it’s also been cool having someone to talk to, and while it’s putting a bit of a strain on the food… that’s irrelavant since the new job will take care of that stuff. It weird to have someone to hang out with so much and I like that it’s not as quiet as it has been lately. Rather that think of how long she’ll be here, I’d rather enjoy the company while I still have it.

Hope everyone is having a great week… and I’ll be around. Till then, take care!

Peter