The Nudeness of Others

To give you some background knowledge before I divulge the following story, there is an "older" Russian couple that lives on the 2nd floor of my building. They are the type of people that yell at everyone else for everything, especially noise. They're the type of couple that makes me wonder, "If you want your own, quiet space why do you live in an apartment building in the middle of a city?" The husband has had quite a few altercations with the people who live above him on my floor; a history which apparently goes back two tenants.

Yesterday, at 4 am, I woke up to a loud banging noise. At first I thought it was outside but realized it was coming from the hallway. Yes, the noise was so loud that it was traveling through my apartment, into my bedroom, loud enough to wake me from a nights sleep.

I went my peep hole to see if it was the crazy-Russian neighbor. Sure enough, someone was banging on the door across the hall. Then the person sat down and was doing something to the door. Or so I thought.

I opened the door to scold the crazy-Russian for being, well crazy and waking people up at 4 am. When I opened the door, one the tenants (a young, BC law student) was sitting against his door, naked with a door mat draped across his lap.

This scene obviously startled both of us.

I told him I thought it was the Russian. I asked if he was okay and he responded, "Well... I've been better."

I asked him if he wanted to come in and use my phone.

He didn't know any one's number off hand.

I asked if he wanted to sleep on my couch. He said no. (Decidedly I realized how lucky I am that a naked man did NOT take me up on this offer!! What was I thinking?! I was tired.)

I asked if he needed anything

He said, "A blanket would be great."

I swooped into my living room, picked up a throw blanket and a pillow and delivered them to his, err, door mat.

At 6:45 am, I opened my door to leave for work. There he was sound asleep, curled up in a ball on his door mat.

When I returned from work, the blanket and pillow were neatly on my own doormat with a note that read:

Thank you for the blanket and pillow. If there is anything I can do to repay the kindness you have given me, please do not hesitate to ask.

All I could think was, would be rude if I asked him to wash my blanket?