This has been over 10 years.

 

In 1998 I moved to Toronto and rented an apartment in East York in a big hurry. It was the result of a door-to-door search along the subway line, right on top of the subway station, but not the nicest kind of apartment. The building was full of new immigrants and people living on welfare.

 

There was a handicapped man living in the building. He was always poorly dressed, had a badly crippled leg, and constantly running nose. Everybody pretended not to notice, but obviously no one was fond of being close to him, including myself.

 

One day I was installing an air conditioner on my window. But the fuse kept burning. I looked outside the balcony, and saw another apartment had an air conditioner installed. I decided to go and ask for help.

 

I regreted as soon as the door was answered. It was that handicapped man.

 

"Can I help you?" he asked.

 

"Eh....yes. I want to install an air conditioner. My fuse is burning up."

 

"You got to use a 20 AMP fuse." he said.

 

"Thanks," I could not wait to leave, and was already beginning to turn away.

 

"Hold on," he said, and turned back into his apartment with his slow-moving legs. After a few seconds he came back, with a fuse in his hand.

 

"Here you go," he said, "I have an extra one. Take it."

 

I looked at the fuse he was handing out, and the shaggy T-shirt he was in. I did not know what to do.

 

Free and unmerited favor is named grace. As I sit in this room today, I still think grace is the only word to describe you, my friend. Wish you well.