In the movie The Little Match Girl, there is an apartment complex that is being shut down and all the tenants are being told to leave a week before Christmas, escalating to a Christmas eve where they are supposed to be gone. All of this is of course orchestrated by an evil plotting man who cares nothing for the spirit of Christmas, and cares nothing for the people.

This is a scene that makes sense. An evil plotting man kicking people out of their homes on the eve of Christmas. That is why there is a bit of disconnect when it is nice kind people who kicked me out of my home practically on the eve of Christmas.

Last Thursday I was invited up to the home of my landlords. They had called me on Wednesday saying there was a possibility that they would be moving, and were wondering if we had plans on moving since I was graduating. I told them no I did not plan on moving, and we would love to be tenants here if they decided to sell the house. Well on Thursday they told me that they did not intend to sell the house, but they want to rent the entire house, and so when would we be able to move out. I mentioned that we are going on a trip right after Christmas, and so by the end of January would be a good time for us. They say they need to be gone by January 2, so could we *try* to find a place to move before we leave. So we start discussing options. I tell them I don't really know that many people in the ward that have apartments, and do they know people. Mike offers to call lots of people and really help me out. But then his wife suggests that he just give me the numbers so I can call them, because can't I do that?

Let us consider. Yes I do have the ability to enter numbers into a phone and call people and ask them if they have openings in their homes for someone who is going to be left stranded before Christmas...oh wait, I didn't know that yet. Back to the present. But yes, I had been planning on you know, working on Christmas presents, spending time with my dad, studying for tests.

So Friday comes and I have a test to take. I am freaking out, because they want me to move before I leave on the 26th. I scour the internet looking for places with openings, finding nothing in my ward, nothing in my price range, nothing with the amenities I want. So I have to take a test, and I go into it knowing full well that with an hour of studying I probably could have aced it, but an hour away from looking for a place to stay was not something I had. I probably failed the test. Oh well.

When I get out of my test, I am greeted by a lovely voicemail from Mike, telling me that he wants us out by the 21st. And this is the grand disconnect. No evil overtone, no mwahaha I am so evil laugh...just...a kind voice...telling me that I am getting 2 weeks notice to move...right before Christmas...during finals week. "Let us know if there is anything we can do to help." How about letting me have a place to live? How about time to concentrate on getting good grades and feeling good about being a student, how about letting me enjoy the Christmas season? How about not putting the biggest amount of stress possible on me and therefore my husband....who has fibromyalgia that flares up when there are high stress situations. Oh wait, there was some mercy, by some freak accident you chose to kick me out in just enough time for me to be able to move while my dad is here so there is a lot less stress on Janardan, but wait...you didn't know that, and therefore did not even care.

The good news is that we got a place, and it is on the same block as Emily. I won't have a yard, but hopefully some plants can grow in the windows. It is a lot bigger place, and the rent is a little cheaper, but we will have to pay for utilities. We have our own washer and dryer. The kitchen is kind of funky, in that it cannot have a traditional oven, so we will see how that works out. (It is zoning laws...which I may be tempted to dispense with if I don't end up liking the arrangement, and the landlord shouldn't get in trouble as long as she doesn't know.) But if I like it, that will be nice.

The bad news is that I have to move. Saturday, some yesterday, and then a whole day today of packing, moving, unpacking. Well the first of today was actually me almost having a nervous breakdown. Seriously I think if my dad were not here, I would have had a nervous breakdown this morning, but when I started freaking out, I just had Janardan call dad, and he came and read Harry Potter to me.

This situation has made me think a lot about evility. We so often associate in movies these people who are evil through and through, who kick their dogs and cheat on their wives, and they are the ones kicking people out of their homes on Christmas, but when the Hawleys do it, it is not because they are bad people, but because they do not think. They probably have not ever once considered what their actions mean to me in my life. I think they would care if they thought, but they do not care to think. And that perhaps is the greatest evil. When you think you do good, and you do harm, it is the worst kind of deception--of yourself.

Edit: At least now I will be able to write lawful good villains.