Day Six Tiny Writing Challenge
Someone apartment- sitting learns three unsettling things about the inhabitant of the apartment.
Ok, so I wasn't quite on board with the whole apartment-sitting thing, really. It was last-minute. A rushed request. But how could I say no. She was a close friend, and I had asked one too many times for assistance with my own dog's needs when I was away on assignment.
And really, what was the worst that could happen? She had DirectTV instead of cable? I could handle that. How about there wasn't any food in the fridge to speak of? Why that's what take-out and delivery were for! Ok, the towels in the bathroom maybe weren't fresh?
Naw, I could handle it. Whatever the crisis, the emergency, the need, I was there to help out.
I unlocked the door, twisting the key first right to hear the click, then wiggle, wiggle wiggle it a little and... I was in. The old darkened oak door swung silently shut behind me as I turned to drag my overnight bag into the living room. See. There was nothing to worry about. Not even a couch pillow out of place.
I wandered through the alcove into the tiny 40's style kitchen. Nothing in the sink. Nothing on the dish drainer. I popped my head into the fridge... bottled water, OJ, a small carton of eggs. Bread on the top shelf. A fresh bag of spring mix lettuce, cucumber and a tomato. And an apple. I grabbed the apple and crunched a bite as I opened the freezer.
Same normal stuff. Frozen pizza. Two Stouffer's lasagna dinners - perfect! Lasagna and a salad for dinner. Done. What else? Some Halo Ice cream, mm. And... a large silver cylinder. Before I could help myself, I reached for the cold, slick container and read the label. Halcyon Fertility Bank? First, EWWWW. Second. What the? Shuddering, I gingerly replaced it where I found it.
Well, you never know about people now, do you?
I wandered back to the living room, picked up my overnight bag and headed down the hall to the guest bedroom on the right. Nice. Full size bed, good. Warm quilt at the ready. Excellent. A good bedside reading lamp and table. Perfect. Even a small desk and docking station for charging my electronics. Though a little cluttered with papers, it was piled neatly to the side. So I unpacked my phone and iPad, plugging them in immediately. Done.
Unpacked my pjs and laid them out on the bed. What the heck, let's live dangerously. No need to wait politely for 8pm. I undressed and donned the slightly frayed pj bottoms with a comfortable tee and a hoodie and thick socks, feeling immediately satisfied. Finishing the apple, I turned to head out the door and back to the tv and dinner.
My phone pinged for an email reminder. As I picked it up, I noticed a letter on the top of the paper pile. "Welcome, New Donor," it read. From the Halcyon Fertility Bank.
No! STOP READING. NOWWWWW.
Ooh. Hm. I felt the familiar heat of red climbing up my throat to my face. Too much! TMI. I replaced the letter to the top of the pile, studiously ignoring my brain waves moving a mile a minute to get a handle on what I just read. NO. Not your beeswax, I reminded myself, and moved on to the living room.
Well.
That can't be unseen, but out of sight out of mind, my mother always said.
Trying desperately to erase the last five minutes from my mind, I plopped myself down on the couch and grabbed the tv remote. Perfect! Distraction.
I wandered through the tv screen cable guide, looking to see if she had CW on-demand so I could watch the latest Jane the Virgin episode.
BRrrrrring. BRrrrring. The landline rang insistently. Nope. Not gonna answer that. BRrrrring. Click went the answering machine, relaying my friend's hope that she was busy right now... yea right... harvesting eggs? NO. Stop. Planning IVF? STOPPPPPP... she couldn't come to the phone, but if you would just leave a brief message... click.
"Pick up. PICK UP," screamed a female voice through the voicemail line. "I know you're there! Pick up the damn phone!"
I froze and covered my ears. Not good. Not happening. Not listening.
"Pick up the phone you little piece of #$%&?! OK. If you think you can get away with this little game you're playing, you are sadly mistaken MISSY. Do YOU hear me? DO YOU HEAR ME???"
Click.
Oh Boy.
Have a Mysterious One :0
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