The next person

Something I wrote a few years ago, inspired by life in Christian community, but relevant to anyone living with other people.

I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine.

He’s a great person – well, that’s if you can call him a person at all; I’ve never actually met him myself but I know of him.

He’s the one who always comes along after me wherever I’ve been, whatever I’ve done - or so I’ve heard, anyway.

Sometimes I’ve thought I’ve caught a glimpse of him from behind but he’s never actually there when I go back and look. But, somehow, he’s always the next to come along, whatever I’ve been doing.

If I make a drink, he comes along after me and makes a drink.

If I park a car, he comes along after me to park another car – sometimes he even drives off in the car I’ve only just finished with.

If I have a bath, he always needs the bath straight after me.

As I said, I don’t know his name so I’ve had to make up my own name for him – I call him the ‘next’ person, although he’d never answer to this name if I called him.

Anyway, this ‘next’ person has taught me a lot, you know. When I first found out that he was going to come along next whatever I did, it started to change how I go about things.

I’ve found myself thinking of the ‘next’ person in the things I do; after all, I wouldn’t want him to think I was selfish. Although he never thanks me for thinking of him (because he doesn’t always know I was there just before him) he would certainly notice if I kept on leaving things in a mess for him, whether or not he knew it was me.

The other day, I made myself a cup of tea using the last bit of water in the kettle. I was just about to walk away when something inside said, “What about the ‘next’ person?” So I thought I’d do him a favour and put some water in the kettle to save him having to do it. I didn’t boil it as I wasn’t sure how long he'd be but I knew it was only a matter of time before he’d come along after me. It may sound daft, me living my life around someone I’ve not seen but I know he’s there; he’s as real to me as any of you are.

Here’s a few of the other things I’ve started doing since I realised about the ‘next’ person:

putting the car keys away as soon as possible so I don’t forget – he always uses them after me

doing at least my own washing up so I don’t make it worse for him – when there’s time, I try to do others’ washing up too to save him having to do it or, at very least, I try not to leave my knive on the bread board so he doesn’t have to clear it up

parking the car so as to leave room for him to drive through after me

drying my feet before I get out of the bath or shower so he doesn’t have to walk on the wet bath mat with his socks on – I bet he hates that!

washing the hairs away after getting out of the bath or shower – otherwise he has to do it before he gets in the bath

putting a new loo roll actually on the loo roll holder when the old one runs out – he’ll only have to do it if I don’t!

getting a few more backup loo rolls when I put the last one on the holder so he can put a new one on when he finishes one

I’ve even started using the hand-towel, as opposed to a tea towel, to dry my hands so that germs from my hands don’t get on his cutlery! Call me a loony if you want.

Anyway, I’m sure there’s loads of stuff I do for him besides, and probably a lot more I could do if I noticed. He’s a good bloke, you know. I think a lot of him. In fact, I reckon I could go so far as to say I love him.

What about you? What can you do for the ‘next’ person? You never know when he might come along…