YOWIEHUB

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Your alarm has gone off after hitting snooze for the last hour. In fugue state, you get ready to hit snooze again until you finally realise: you’re late.

You jump out of bed, throw on a wrinkled shirt, some dress pants and slip on some boots. You don’t have anytime for breakfast, or coffee, or to catch the bus. So you decide to drive.

As you leave the house, all you can think about are deadlines, quarterly reports, and KPIs. You’re so blinded by your thoughts that fumble over your keys in the driveway and drop them under the car. You curse your luck. Why today? Why does nothing go my way?

Suddenly you hear a voice from across the driveway.

“Have a good morning, mate”.

It’s none other than your neighbour, Yoward “Yowie” Yatterson. He’s dapper, chipper, and most importantly composed. He always is.

“Y-you too, mate.” You reply shoddily. He never seems to be in a rush. And yet he’s got a nicer car than me.

You take a breath and appreciate the dewy air around you. It really is a good morning. You unlock your car and head off for your day.

***

You pull up on your driveway at 10pm. Your day is finally over. You had to stay back late on a Wednesday getting that one project over the line in time for the meeting with the client. There is nothing you want more than some sleep.

But, as soon as you get out of the car, your mind starts buzzing with all the other responsibilities you have:

What am I going to have for dinner? I haven’t eaten all day. Oh shit that’s right, I have that appointment tomorrow morning so I can’t sleep in, otherwise I’ll run late for the meeting with our client. My place is a mess as well, I’ve been meaning to clean it and do some groceries. When am I going to have time.

As you walk towards your front door, you stop and turn. Shit. It’s bin day. Let me take the reds out. Or is the yellows as well? Wait, that was last week, maybe it’s the greens.

You turn around to see your bins have already been moved. One red and one green on the side of the street. Yowie Yatterson must have moved them for you.

You chuckle, but then you’re filled with immense guilt. He’s always doing this for me, when am I ever going to repay him.

***

The next day you wake up on time. You’re determined to make some time to be present. You slowly get dressed. You take time to enjoy some eggs with toast. Then you brush off the crumbs from your lap, grab your briefcase and head to the front door to start your walk to the bus. Today is good, you can just feel it.

As you leave your house, you see Yowie Yatterson already pulling your bins.

“G’day mate. Lovely day we’re having. Make sure to take some time to enjoy it.”

“You too Yowie. Thank you for helping me out with the bins, it’s been a bit hectic at work the last few days.”

“I can tell mate, the misses and I were concerned at how long your driveway was empty. So I thought I’d take your bins out.”

“I really appreciate it mate. Say, would you be keen to come over for a beer on the weekend?”

“Well, I can’t say no to a coupla brewskis. But you know, the misses will be mad at me if she doesn’t get an invite too. Say, how about you come to ours on Friday. We’re having a BBQ and you can come shoot the shit with us then.”

“That sounds great Yowie. I’ll see you on Friday.”

“Legend. Thanks mate, have a swell day.”

And with that Yowie sets off for work. You take a moment to bask in the morning. Live really is better with a Yowie neighbour.