The Uninvited Guest

An Unexpected Visitor

Early in the days when mobile phones were just coming into fashion, my wife and I were newlyweds settling into a recently built house. The flats were absolutely smashing, the layouts were simply spot on. We were completely taken with the place. However, the neighbours sharing our landing were far from pleasant. Even at a young age, I was quite the stern chap, holding a respectable position at work and accustomed to being treated with dignity. My wife jokingly called me Mr Turner, using both my name and title to keep things light.

One morning, as I stepped out the door, I bumped into the new neighbour. She didnt bother with a hello or goodbye. I decided then and there to return the favourno more pleasantries from me! I took it rather personally and wore my indifference like armour.

Then our housewarming came round! We invited friends and relatives for a proper celebration of our new start. The merrymaking carried on a bit longer than was really neighbourly. Not long after, one of the neighbours rang the bell. I opened the door, and he had the nerve to say it was getting lateimagine! This, to me! And it was only half eleven on a Saturday night! He even blamed his wife, claiming she had a terrible headache and desperately needed sleep. What a cheek!

After that, I wouldnt so much as glance their way, even when we crossed paths in the shared corridor. My wife still greeted them, but I stood firmit was a matter of principle! Let them learn how to behave amongst decent folk! Proud, I was, and set in my ways.

For a while, we hardly saw them at all. Then, one blustery evening as we were coming home, a young woman stood shivering by the doors to our landing. She looked relieved when she saw us. Im your neighbours sister, she explained. Ive come from far away and have been waiting for them for three hours now. May I wait on your landing? Its freezing in the stairwell. And it truly wasa proper English snowstorm, wind howling through the trees. We let her in. I adopted that tone Im known for, Youre not local? Wheres your luggage? She told me shed left her bags at left luggage, expecting her brother-in-law could help fetch them the next day. Its impossible to drag a suitcase in this weather.

Back inside, I said to my wife, If they didnt meet a relative travelling all this way tonight, perhaps shes not really family at all! She could be anyone, and we let her in ourselves. Ever the suspicious and stubborn man.

We sat down for supper, but I couldnt get the stranger out of my mind. I kept peering through the peephole; there she was, pressed against the cold wall, waiting patiently. My wife called me to the table, but I couldnt eat a biteall I could think about was this unfamiliar visitor. My wife suggested we invite her in for supper, but I was resistive: We cant just bring anyone in! Still, I took her a chair for the landing, grumbling, And why didnt your sister greet you? She replied, quite simply, I wanted it to be a surprise! Shes due any day nowher pregnancys been terribly rough, and Ive come to help with the baby. I listened, not quite trusting. Was our neighbour expecting? I hadnt noticed!

Every five minutes, Id check the door, watching her sit quietly on that chair. Soon enough, my wife was fast asleep, but I was wide awake. I just couldnt shake the thought of the weary young woman. Imagine the effort to get here tonight! She must have been utterly exhausted.

It was nearly midnight when I leapt from bed, threw on my dressing gown, and marched into the landing. Thats it! Come inyoull stay with us tonight! She was startled but also grateful, politely refusing at first, but I wouldnt hear of it. I handed her a dressing gown and a towel, and showed her to the bathroom for a hot shower. Afterwards, I insisted she eat something, made up the spare room for her, and wished her a good night. Thoughtful, for a change.

I scribbled a note to the neighboursYour sister is with us. Please dont call before 6:00am.

At eight in the morning, the doorbell rang. There was the neighbour, beaming ear to ear. Turned out his wife had given birth to a baby boy during the snowy night. You understand? I have a son! We have a son! His joy seemed to burst into the flat, and I realised I felt it, tooa surprising sense that his happiness was somehow mine as well. Something extraordinary had happened.

Soon, mother and baby were home, and our neighbour couldnt thank me enough for sheltering her younger sister that night.

Sometimes we think we know ourselves inside out, and assume were great judges of others. We criticise, argue, and dig in our heels. But then something happens, and our anger just melts away. Thats when you realise you can only really experience life with an open heart. I learned that lesson thanks to an unexpected visitor that snowy night.