Agnes finds a home

Continued from:

• Compassion in the Aftermath of War
• Journey from the Kingdom of Microsoft to the Land of Linux
• A New Life in the Village of Mint
• An Immigrant from the City of Ubuntu

At first, the refugee from the kingdom of Microsoft enjoyed her new temporary dwelling. The interior of the dwelling was very well built and tastefully decorated in contrast to the curious cylindrical exterior with the mystic "Live CD" emblazoned above the doorway. The floor plan made sense to her, and it seemed to be modern and up-to-date. However, it was only two days until she became suspicious that something strange was happening. It concerned her quite a bit and so she set off to find some help.

She walked for a few minutes down the street toward the center of town and came to the LUG, a place where the locals gather to eat and drink, but most of all, to talk about Linux for hours at a time. She knew someone there could help her.

When she walked in the door, who did she see but Sir Hackalot himself.

"Hello, miss. How have you found your temporary dwelling?" he asked.

"It's very nice, but someone in this village must be a trespasser and a thief!" she exclaimed.

"My good miss! Whatever would cause you to come to that conclusion?" queried the knight.

"Well, the first day I moved in, I moved some furniture and put some new pictures on the walls. Then while I was gone on a walk, someone moved it all back. Then the next day I baked some bread and went out for some fresh air. When I came back, the bread was gone! Someone must have broken in and stolen it."

"Oh, I see!" cried Sir Hackalot. "That is why it is a temporary dwelling. When you leave your temporary dwelling, you will find that anything you did there will be set back to where it was before you moved in. Did you notice that your bed was made for you and the dishes washed as well?"

"Yes, I noticed these things too, but they did not upset me. How can I make my dwelling the way I would like it to be?" asked the woman.

"If you move into a new house, you will not have this problem. Are you ready to do that now?"

"Yes, please," replied the woman. "That would be much better than moving the furniture every day."

"Would you like me to help you find a new house?" asked the knight.

"I'd be delighted," answered the woman.

The two exited the LUG and walked together toward the outskirts of the village where the new mint-green houses were being constructed.

"This one here is unclaimed. Is this a suitable location?" asked the knight.

"It looks splendid," replied the woman. "Why is there a sheet of paper on the door?"

"It is a form to fill out for your new house," replied the knight. Taking it from the door he started to read. "You need English language, I presume?"

"Yes that would be good."

"OK... Let's see... standard keyboard... OK... Use all of the space in the house for you... OK..." Pausing a bit, he asked, "What is your name?"

"Well, my parents named me Agnes, although I was a bit stout when I was younger and some called me Fat Agnes. I would much prefer Agnes, however."

"I heartily agree, Agnes. And by the way, no one would call you Fat Agnes today. You are quite the fine specimen of a woman now."

She blushed a bit and replied, "Thank you for your kind words, sir."

"You may call me by my given name William if you would like," replied the knight.

"I'd like that very much, William," she said with a glint in her eye. Composing herself she asked, "Is that all there is to the form?"

"Oh, oh yes, the form, the form," stammered the knight. "Here is a place to write your password so that only you can enter your home. Don't tell me or anyone else what it is."

The knight handed the form to Agnes and she wrote her password on it.

"What should I do with this now?" she asked.

"See that slot to the left of the door? Slide the paper through the slot," he replied.

As Agnes began to slide the paper through the slot, a whirring sound was heard, and the paper was pulled from her fingertips. A clanking noise continued for a few seconds and then a clink of metal on metal as a key slid down a chute into a small opening beneath the slot. She took the key, and after she put the key into the door and unlocked it, a quiet arpeggio of bells was heard.

"Sounds like you are ready to move in," said the knight. "Enjoy your new home and let me know if you need anything."

"I think I already feel at home here in this village. You have made it a pleasant place for me," said Agnes, looking into his eyes.

"And you for me as well! Till we meet again!" shouted the knight as he walked away.

"Till we meet again!" returned the woman as he walked away.

As she gazed at the knight walking down the street, her mind wandered to her first order of business in her new house -- moving the furniture.