Half Naked

I came home last night and found a little man wandering around the living room in his underwear. He was Chinese, rotund, about forty years old. His potbelly shot out beyond his Christmas boxers, a colorful item of clothing decorated with twinkle lights. He smiled and waved and went and cooked some pancakes in the kitchen. It quickly became apparent that he did not speak English,and I did not speak Chinese. I smiled and waved back, and got a Fresca from the refrigerator.

I have never seen the little half-naked man before. He has a substantial comb over.

Packing went well last night. I'm at the point where, when I use something for the last time, I put it in a box and seal it up. The toothbrush and all the bare-essential bathroom items were sealed up this morning. I've labelled everything faithfully. I try to put details on the boxes. Details like: "Fragile" or "Heavy" or "Andy can not move this box because he broke my dishes last time."

The little half-naked Chinese man offered me a pancake, holding it out on a plastic spatula. I wasn't hungry so I politely declined. I used the universal dual-hand signal for "I'm full," where you pat your belly and then put a hand up in front of you in the "stop" position. I smiled again to be polite.

I've washed everything I own. I'm not going to have a dishwasher or a free washing machine in my new place, so nothing gets packed without being run through at least one of these contraptions. I have a Downy freshness about me, which comes partly from the fabric softener, but partly from my feeling that I have entered a new phase in life. I've got a new place, and I'm starting school again. I'm very excited.

The little half-naked Chinese man has a wife who stayed in a side bedroom most of the night. The door was closed, and I did not want to intrude. I'm working off the assumption that they are the new tenants. I can not confirm this, however, and have decided that it doesn't really matter.

I'm especially proud of the way I packed up the big, cumbersome pieces. Whenever I saw a large cardboard box at work or around town, I brought it home, cut it up, and used it as sheeting to wrap the item. I have a four foot by five foot painting that is safely sealed. I did the same thing with the kitchen table, removing the legs and wrapping the top in a refrigerator box I found behind a grocery store. It takes time, but the move itself will go faster because of it.

Tonight is the big event! Everything looks to be going according to plan. I will give the half-naked Chinese man a high-five as I walk out the door.