by K. Russell

Created on: February 07, 2011

It started out like any other day, coffeepot on, jump in the shower, break out the college assignments and try to get some studying before heading off to classes and then work. It was a busy schedule, but renting the house so close to the University District made it all possible. Being young and idealistic, I had no idea just how much damage a thoughtless roommate could inflict on my life and my property.

The house was a 2-story single family home, separated into apartments. I and another student shared the upstairs, while my sister and a friend of hers, whose parents owned the house, rented the downstairs. The entrances were completely separate, so it felt as though my roommate and I had the house to ourselves. The only problem was: The Roommate. He was well-intended but utterly brainless. On top of that, he was a slob. Living with him felt something like living with a big helium balloon that just kept floating around, getting in the way.

Finally, I couldn’t take any more and I told him he had to move out. He was nice enough about it and had moved out the night before without any real drama. Sitting at my table, with my homework spread out, I noticed an oddness coming from the hallway that led to the bathroom. It looked something like a trick with lights, the way it kept moving. Luckily, I decided to investigate. That odd, playful light was a fire in my attic!

The Roommate had taken a large, fat candle up into the attic with him to collect his things and, being the brainless idiot he was, forgot to bring it down or blow it out. It had burned all night long without anyone even knowing it was there! I immediately called the fire department and grabbed the fire extinguisher but the damage was already done.

Four generations of Christmas decorations were gone, destroyed by fire. Valuable art, gone. Winter clothes and coats, all gone. Books, family letters, an antique sewing machine, a hand carved wooden rocking horse, my mother’s wedding dress, all gone. 

Of course, we were all lucky that I spotted the fire before heading out for the day. My sister worked nights, so she was sound asleep in the basement apartment and would probably have never gotten out alive. As it was, we were safe, but our peace of mind and our property was destroyed. Unfortunately, we didn’t have renters’ insurance, so that was a total loss. The renters’ insurance wouldn’t have fixed everything, but it sure would have helped in the recovery process. Such a small initial investment would have paid off in spades...

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