THE ROOMMATE

I TRIED THIS ONCE BEFORE, AND AOL ATE MY COPY........ SO........I AM GONNA TRY IT AGAIN, AND SAVE MY COPY EVERY FEW MINUTES, SO I DON'T HAVE TO REWRITE IT AGAIN.............AT LEAST NOT ALL OF IT.    

for those who have sorta followed my story, you know i have been going through some hard times, financially and emotionally.  i lost my home in march, and have had difficulty paying the rent where i live now.  when i moved into this rental house, i was under the impression i would have a roommate in a couple of months.  that was 4 months ago.  the lady who was going to room with me, along with her daughter, said she wasn't able to do so yet.  this woman is not a stranger, but not a close friend either.  i met her at a local restaurant i used to frequent.  she was a waitress there.  when i first met her, she was living with her mother and stepfather, as well as her two children, a 19 year old son and a 7 year old daughter.  she is 36 and divorced.  we talked alot when i would go to the restaurant and became sorta friends.  then later, when things started going bad for me financially, i stopped going there.  she would call me from work and say hello, and then gripe about her boss, the owner of the restaurant, who actually is a friend of mine.  but i agreed with her, lol.     

this woman called me one day and asked if she could someday soon room with me, and bring her daughter.  i told her that was a good idea, but i had to have a roomie within the 2nd month after i moved.  she said ok, she would see what she could do.    

now a bit of background on this woman.  she almost lost her home awhile back, so moved in with her mother and stepfather to save some money so she could get back on her feet.  well, this mother of hers must have not wanted that to happen, because she charged her $800 a month for a room in her house.  of course, she had bathroom rights and i am sure kitchen rights.  i had told her i would charge her $450 for her and her daughter.  but she remained at her mom's because of day care expenses.     

by this time i was hurting badly financially, and was served eviction papers.  i worked out a deal with the landlord and remained in the rental house.  i called my friend and begged her to reconsider moving in with me, i needed some help.  she told me it just wasn't possible right then.  so, i continued to suffer financially, and received another eviction notice a week ago.  i was gearing up to move again........but didn't know where.    

thursday, i was off, so was sleeping in.  i had been online and on the phone with a friend from las vegas till around 7:30 am, so didn't actually get to sleep till around 8 am.  at 10:30 am, my door bell started ringing incessantly, and i drug my butt to the door, hair sticking up all over my head, eyes swollen shut from lack of sleep, and wearing a ratty gown.  when i opened the door, it was my friend.  she had a bag of clothing in her hand and was crying............and asked if she could stay a couple of days.  i sat her down and found out what happened.  seems her mother went off the deep end, following her around the house, telling her she couldn't read her books or watch tv in her house.  and then followed her into her room and sat and stared at her for 30 minutes.  and then told her she wasn't allowed to leave the house except to go to work, and she would have to call her when she got there and before she left there to come home.  now, this is a 36 year old woman we are talking about.  i understand that at any age, if you move back home, you abide by the house rules.  but come on.........this is ridiculous.  so........they got into a big fight, and the mother threw her out.  she had nowhere to go, and knew i wanted a roomie, so she came here.  she had been so good to carry me around and to work when i didn't have my car (even though i gave her gas money), i just couldn't say no.  so, figuring this was a Godsend, i said ok, you can stay.  i knew we could discuss ground rules and money later.  i wanted her to get through the first couple of days, and get sorta settled first.    

ok, anyone knows it is difficult to live with someone you know little about.  i knew it was going to be tough learning to cohabitate with someone after living alone for the last two years.  well, alone with my two cats.  i first found myself trying to be a good "hostess".  i would cater to her needs for food by cooking meals (which i don't always do for myself) and for daily needs, i.e. towels, washcloths, soap, etc.  i didn't have any extra toothbrushes, so figured she would buy her one the next day.  instead, she uses her finger or a washcloth with toothpaste on it.  i only have one bathroom in my rental house, so i knew we would be crossing paths there.  i am not the best housekeeper, but i do like things in some sort of order.  towels hung in the same place to avoid confusion of whose is whose.  that sort of thing.    

the second day she was here, i went to take a shower about an hour after she did, and noticed the rug on the floor next to the tub was soaked.  i have shower doors and wondered why it was so wet.  i asked her if she closed the doors, and she said she did.  strange.......i have been here 4 months, and never has the rug even been damp.  ok............    

i noticed my only hairbrush was empty of my hair.......not that i don't clean it out myself, but i lose alot of hair daily, so it is always a little "hairy".  but it was clean........i asked her if she had cleaned it out.  she said yes, when she took a shower, she cleaned it out, and then used it.  ok, doesn't this woman, who has hair down to her waist, and thick as a thicket, have her own brush????     

on friday night, she says she is taking a shower and then shaving her legs and underarms.  i said ok, and went about my business.  a few minutes later she comes out and is complaining that the razor isn't sharp enough.  i asked her what razor was she using.................she said the pink one........... i asked her if she meant her pink one or my pink one...........she said mine, on the sink...............i couldn't believe it!!!!!!!!!  she was using MY razor!!!  why would anyone use someone elses razor???  that is like using someone elses toothbrush!  and i don't have the extra money right now to buy any more razors................    

ok, i let it go.  it is now monday morning, around 5:45 am, and neither of us have to be at work till 3 pm on monday.  i had layed down, being so sleepy i couldn't hold my head up, and had gone to sleep immediately.... when 5 minutes later, i hear a distant voice saying my name.....then it got louder, and then suddenly a burst of light startles me awake from my sleep, and she says.............."hey, didn't you hear me calling you???  i am getting something to drink."  oh my gosh, she woke me up to tell me she was getting something to drink????????????????  is this how roommates are???  and she hasn't paid me a dime yet???  someone help, i smell murderous intent in the air..........................