"Umm, hi. Are we alone yet?", the voice from the closet asked nervously.
     "Uhn, dreaming already? What time is it?", Owen said groggily. "It's four in the afternoon," the voice responded, "half past at the latest. I just thought I'd introduce myself. My name's Kexrouth. Umm, I live in the closet.".
     "Oh, okay. Just don't wrinkle my pant's and you can stay there as long as you want. Now unless you have Sarah Michelle Geller back there and plan on sending her out I'm going back to sleep.".
     "Umm, no, I'm alone right now. We'll talk about this later.".
     "Sure. Any time. I'll be sleeping here most nights. I'm going to sleep now. Good night, Kexrouth.".
     "Good night, Owen.".
     Owen rolled his head to the side, staring at the closet door before closing his eyes and falling into a deep and restful slumber.

     Owen woke up at ten the next morning. He stumbled out of bed and made his way into the kitchen. After grabbing a bottle of apple juice and drinking it all in one breath, he looked over the pile of boxes on the table, trying to decide where to start with the day's unpacking. He picked up the phone, but there was no dial tone. He picked up Jim's cell phone and dialed his work number. After talking to three different people, he finally got Jim on the phone.
     "Hi, it's me. What does a dream about a voice coming out of the closet mean?".
     "Is it that 'Buffy' dream again? I still think it means that you're a lesbian trapped in a man's body. Get a sex change and go with it. I only have two minutes left of my break, so can we talk about this later?".
     "No, this time it was different. It was a man's voice...".
     "Oh. I wouldn't read too much into that. If I didn't have to go I'd take the time to make you unsure of you're heterosexuality, but if I'm late getting back to work the foreman'll fire me. He's had it out for me ever since that squid incident. I'll stop by tonight, okay? Gotta run, bye!". Owen heard the phone disconnect.
     Owen turned off the cell phone and grabbed a box off the table. Sticking it under his arm, he carried it into his room and set it on the foot of the bed. He stared at the closet for a moment, then swung the doors wide open. It was empty except for the clothes he'd hung there the night before, and a few towels on the shelf. Owen shook his head at the absurdity of his action. He grabbed a bath towel and headed into the bathroom, intent of having a long hot bath to clear his head. From beneath his feet he could here voices from the lounge, at least five of them today. He couldn't be sure, but it sounded like the woman's voice he'd heard last night was one of them. He decided to have a shower instead, so he might be able to go meet a few of the neighbours while they were in the building.

     "So how exactly did this happen?", the younger of the two men asked his companion.
     "It was three a.m., and I was out looking for a bowl of miso soup when...", the older man stopped when Owen walked into the room, "Hello? Are you looking for someone?".
     The two men were alone in the large room. Owen could see a large screen television, several comfortable looking couches and chairs, some folding chairs against the near wall, and a coffee maker with a half empty pot in it. The furniture was very out of date, and looked well used but in good shape. The television was turned on to CBC Newsworld, but it was either turned low or on mute.
     "Hi, I'm Owen. I just moved into apartment 26. I thought I'd come down to the lounge and meet a few people.".
     The younger of the two men stood up and grabbed Owen's hand from his side, "Owen, Murray told me about you. I'm his older brother Robert. It's great to have you here with us. Sit down and join us. This is Edwin. He lives in apartment 14.".
     Edwin nodded, "Pleased to meet you. Sorry to take off, but I have something in the oven, and I don't want it to burn. I'll see you around, I'm sure.".
     Owen shook Edwin's hand as he left the room, then sat down in a large chair across from Robert.
     "So how do you like it here so far?", Robert asked as he settled into the couch.
     Owen stretched out his legs, "It's great. I've only spent one night here so far, though. I just had my bed moved in yesterday.".
     "I'll have to take you around and introduce you to a few of the other tenants. As much as I hate to do this, though, I have to run. I have to return a couple of phone calls. We've got an inspection in a week, and I want to see about getting a plumber in to take a look at the third floor plumbing. Let me know if you have any water damage to your ceiling, okay?". Robert stood up and started moving towards the lounge door.
     "I didn't notice anything, but I'll keep an eye out.".
     "Great, I'm in apartment 11. Stop by sometime.".
     "Yeah, I'll do that, but probably not until next week. I want to finish unpacking.".
     Robert opened the door and left the room, leaving Owen alone. Owen sighed and looked around for the remote control. He spent a few minutes flipping through the channels before he gave up hope of finding anything interesting. He turned it back to Newsworld and shut it off. Deciding that he really needed to start the day's unpacking, he got up and made his way to the stairs. At the sound of the outside door opening, he paused and turned his head to the side, looking to see who it might be.
     To Owen, she was a vision from heaven. She stood nearly as tall as his six feet, with large deep blue eyes and honey blonde hair that reached down to the small of her back. She walked up to the apartment next to the stairs, either ignoring or oblivious to the fact that Owen was standing watching her nearly slack jawed. As she slipped her key into the door she turned to Owen and gave him a friendly smile, silently mouthing the word 'hi', as she opened the door and stepped inside.
     Owen stood dumbstruck for what could have been thirty seconds or an hour.

     Owen set up his stereo with a selection of homemade CDs, and opened the first box for the kitchen. He unpacked until one, when he ordered a pizza and sat down in the A/V room for a well deserved break.
     He was woken by the door buzzer. He let the delivery girl up, paid her a nice tip, and sat down and dug into his meal, making a mental note to find a nearby Indian place that delivered.
     It was probably fortunate that he didn't hear the words "Is that pepperoni?" coming from his closet.

     The knock on the door reminded Owen that it was three, he needed to get back to work and that his legs were asleep.
     He stumbled over a few piles of books he still needed to sort on his way to answer the door. In the doorway was a man just short of middle age holding a tray of food and a six pack of beer.
     "Edwin, right?".
     The man nodded, "I though I'd see if you wanted any help unpacking, and brought a little gift. Should I put these in the fridge?".
     Owen ushered him inside, "Thanks! I've got a friend coming over sometime tonight, but I'm on my own until then. Did you want some pizza? I've got a little left over.".
     "What kind is it? I'm a vegetarian.".
     "It's got pepperoni. I can dig something else out if you want.".
     "That's okay. At my age I really need to start watching what I eat, anyway.".
     Owen took the tray and beer from him and took them into the kitchen. "How about some iced tea, then?".
     "I'd love some.".
     "Why don't you sit down in the room at the end of the hall, my best furniture's in there.".
     "The room the music's coming from?".
     "That's the one.".
     Owen poured two large glasses of iced tea and took them into the A/V room. Edwin was looking over his music collection approvingly.
     "See anything you like?".
     "Quite a bit. But what you've got in is fine.".
     Owen handed Edwin one of the glasses, "So do you work near here?".
     Edwin shook his head, "No, I'm between jobs at the moment. I've spent the last twenty years working odd jobs. Jack of all trades, master of none. And you?".
     Owen motioned with his chin in the direction his work, "Do you know the video store about ten minute walk that way? I'm the Assistant Manager. We're looking for someone at the moment, if you're interested.".
     Edwin chuckled, "I've done my tour of duty in that business. I'm not the customer service type. So did you want me to help you unpack? I don't want to keep you from getting it done.".
     "I was due for a break.", Owen lied.
     Edwin gave an affirmative grunt as he took a sip of iced tea.
     Owen downed his own glass, then sat down in the nearest chair. Edwin followed suit. The two of them talked for an hour before the cell phone rang.
     "Excuse me, I need to get that.", Owen rushed out of the room.
     "Hi, Jim?", Owen asked as he answered the call.
     "Owen! How's the place?", Jim answered cheerfully.
     "It's great! I've already met some of the neighbours, and I think I met the girl of my dreams downstairs. How was your day?".
     "Typical. Lift things up, put them down somewhere else.".
     Edwin walked past Owen on his way to the door, "I should really be going. I'll see you some other time.".
     Owen nodded his head, and Edwin let himself out.
     "Who was that? The voice from the closet?", Jim asked mockingly.
     "That was Edwin, one of the neighbours. He dropped of a housewarming gift and helped unpack.".
     "So tell me about this girl. Let me guess, blonde hair, blue eyes?".
     Owen blushed, "Am I that predictable?".
     "Yes. So what's her name?".
     "Umm,", Owen stammered, "I didn't really catch it. She just sort of said 'hi' as she walked past me.".
     Jim was laughing into the phone, "She 'sort of said hi'.".
     "Well, she just sort of mouthed it. But she did smile at me!".
     "This is better than the dream. I can use this for days. I'll be over after seven. I have to go.".
     "I'll see you then. Bye!", Owen pressed end and put the phone down.
     It was only seconds later that he heard the loud crash in the pantry. Owen ran over to the closed door, and heard the sounds of something bashing itself against the closed door. He carefully opened the door a crack, letting in just enough light to see into the enclosed space. He stared for a moment, forced the door closed, and dug out the number Murray had given him the week. Owen dialed the number, waiting for someone to pick up.
     After three rings, a voice finally answered.
     "Hello?", Murray said.
     "Hello, Murray, it's Owen. I just moved into apartment 26.".
     "Oh, right! What can I do for you?".
     "I just have a question for you.".
     "Sure, what's that?".
     Owen took a deep breath, "Do you have any idea what a two foot tall black and purple chicken is doing in my pantry?".

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