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Part 1 - Warning Signs
Get comfy, because this is going to be a long story. My memory of the time is a bit foggy, so bear with me as I try and drudge up some memories that I cannot say I'm very fond of. Its really long to boot, so I'll be posting it in parts, as I get the chance to type it up. This happened about five, six years ago. *edited that there, so sorry I forgot to specify a timeframe for this*
It all began after a bit of family drama finally drove me away from home. I decided at that point to move out, and to try and go to a college a couple of hours away, and try and stay on campus. I applied to the college, was approved, given a full ride to boot, plus a very small bonus for books. I thought things were going to be hunky dory, but little did I know how very, very naïve I was about the real world.
The dormitory on campus idea did not pan out, sadly. They were shut down a few months before the next semester, due to massive structural issues and supposedly some asbestos and black mold issues. So, I inquired at the office, and was recommended to check out the new living quarters being sanctioned by the school.
A couple of miles away from campus, a burgeoning company had purchased a decrepit motel, and were in the process of remodeling it to be suitable for living again, plus adding in a few amenities to attract students. It sounded like a dream place. A single room suite, with utilities included, plus access to a hair salon, pool, and exercise area. On top of that, there was to be a cafeteria where you could get meals, and they were even going to have a cooking staff who would bring your meals to you if you wanted.
All in all, it sounded like practical heaven to a youngling out on her own for the first time. Should've known better, but hindsight is 20/20.
After filing an application, and being approved, my parents took me out there to view the place, and.....it was not originally as they stated. Everything was still in the midway process of being built. Half the rooms were still being stripped, and there was construction debris everywhere. They promised profusely that everything was “on schedule to be finished by the time school starts”. Ok, guess we'll put down a deposit then! Picked out the room I wanted, got my keys, and went back home.
Fast forward to where I am moving in.
We arrive with the truck o stuff, and I go to my room and open the door....and promptly surprise a half naked dude playing video games in MY room. Turns out, oops, they forgot which room I wanted, and sold it to someone else, and since they couldn't find the keys, had new ones made up for him.
Apologies abounded, and I picked out a new place, and settled in finally, and waved goodbye to my parents.
Things went fine for the first week, and then the first round of trouble started.
I couldn't get any sleep because the guy who lived next door to me was....ehm....loud. As were his...female visitors. They tried to cover up their noises with music, but when the visitor's inclined to scream, it still doesn't cover it. And turning up the music to the point the walls are shaking doesn't help things either. Multiple calls to the landlord never worked, and I even tried knocking on his door and asking politely. That got me a nice middle finger in my face and a few choice swear words, while the Female of the Night came up behind him, mostly naked, and screamed at me as well.
Eep.
Then, a couple of days after I gave up trying to be nice, and called the landlord down AGAIN, my internet and phone cut out one day, and I couldn't get it working, no matter what. I called in the property manager (henceforth to be known as Slumlord) and asked him to take a look at it. I stepped out for a bit to get my mail while he examined the cables, and came back to find him sorting through stuff on my dresser. He jumped back when I walked in, and stammered that he was just looking around, thought he heard a noise. Angry, I asked what kind of noise would've come from a pile of laundry, and he just walked back to the cables and continued to check things out. I stayed in there then, and watched him until he pointed out the problem. The cables in the wall had been severed. WTF? He stated that it was unrepairable unless they pulled out the cables from the wall and redid them, and that would make a huge mess, obviously. Would I be interested in living in a different room?
So yes, moving yet AGAIN to a new room, and this time I picked a corner room, hoping that maybe with nobody on one side, it'd be a lot quieter.
As I was carrying totes of stuff on over, this one guy stopped me and said “Ohhh, you're the chick in <room>, right? Yeah, you ok?” I replied in the affirmative, and asked why.
“Oh, that last **tch he had over was CRAAAAAZY. She heard you calling, and took a knife to the wall and cut your wires, said she was gonna cut you too. Best be careful if you see her, you hear?”
...Oh wow, seriously? I thanked him, and he actually helped me carry over the last couple of totes, and again told me to be careful, and left, and made a note to myself to be careful of who I ticked off in the future.
Pity, if only I'd remembered that advice for myself in the future. Namely, with my landlords.
-End of Part 1-
Get comfy, because this is going to be a long story. My memory of the time is a bit foggy, so bear with me as I try and drudge up some memories that I cannot say I'm very fond of. Its really long to boot, so I'll be posting it in parts, as I get the chance to type it up. This happened about five, six years ago. *edited that there, so sorry I forgot to specify a timeframe for this*
It all began after a bit of family drama finally drove me away from home. I decided at that point to move out, and to try and go to a college a couple of hours away, and try and stay on campus. I applied to the college, was approved, given a full ride to boot, plus a very small bonus for books. I thought things were going to be hunky dory, but little did I know how very, very naïve I was about the real world.
The dormitory on campus idea did not pan out, sadly. They were shut down a few months before the next semester, due to massive structural issues and supposedly some asbestos and black mold issues. So, I inquired at the office, and was recommended to check out the new living quarters being sanctioned by the school.
A couple of miles away from campus, a burgeoning company had purchased a decrepit motel, and were in the process of remodeling it to be suitable for living again, plus adding in a few amenities to attract students. It sounded like a dream place. A single room suite, with utilities included, plus access to a hair salon, pool, and exercise area. On top of that, there was to be a cafeteria where you could get meals, and they were even going to have a cooking staff who would bring your meals to you if you wanted.
All in all, it sounded like practical heaven to a youngling out on her own for the first time. Should've known better, but hindsight is 20/20.
After filing an application, and being approved, my parents took me out there to view the place, and.....it was not originally as they stated. Everything was still in the midway process of being built. Half the rooms were still being stripped, and there was construction debris everywhere. They promised profusely that everything was “on schedule to be finished by the time school starts”. Ok, guess we'll put down a deposit then! Picked out the room I wanted, got my keys, and went back home.
Fast forward to where I am moving in.
We arrive with the truck o stuff, and I go to my room and open the door....and promptly surprise a half naked dude playing video games in MY room. Turns out, oops, they forgot which room I wanted, and sold it to someone else, and since they couldn't find the keys, had new ones made up for him.
Apologies abounded, and I picked out a new place, and settled in finally, and waved goodbye to my parents.
Things went fine for the first week, and then the first round of trouble started.
I couldn't get any sleep because the guy who lived next door to me was....ehm....loud. As were his...female visitors. They tried to cover up their noises with music, but when the visitor's inclined to scream, it still doesn't cover it. And turning up the music to the point the walls are shaking doesn't help things either. Multiple calls to the landlord never worked, and I even tried knocking on his door and asking politely. That got me a nice middle finger in my face and a few choice swear words, while the Female of the Night came up behind him, mostly naked, and screamed at me as well.
Eep.
Then, a couple of days after I gave up trying to be nice, and called the landlord down AGAIN, my internet and phone cut out one day, and I couldn't get it working, no matter what. I called in the property manager (henceforth to be known as Slumlord) and asked him to take a look at it. I stepped out for a bit to get my mail while he examined the cables, and came back to find him sorting through stuff on my dresser. He jumped back when I walked in, and stammered that he was just looking around, thought he heard a noise. Angry, I asked what kind of noise would've come from a pile of laundry, and he just walked back to the cables and continued to check things out. I stayed in there then, and watched him until he pointed out the problem. The cables in the wall had been severed. WTF? He stated that it was unrepairable unless they pulled out the cables from the wall and redid them, and that would make a huge mess, obviously. Would I be interested in living in a different room?
So yes, moving yet AGAIN to a new room, and this time I picked a corner room, hoping that maybe with nobody on one side, it'd be a lot quieter.
As I was carrying totes of stuff on over, this one guy stopped me and said “Ohhh, you're the chick in <room>, right? Yeah, you ok?” I replied in the affirmative, and asked why.
“Oh, that last **tch he had over was CRAAAAAZY. She heard you calling, and took a knife to the wall and cut your wires, said she was gonna cut you too. Best be careful if you see her, you hear?”
...Oh wow, seriously? I thanked him, and he actually helped me carry over the last couple of totes, and again told me to be careful, and left, and made a note to myself to be careful of who I ticked off in the future.
Pity, if only I'd remembered that advice for myself in the future. Namely, with my landlords.
-End of Part 1-
and waits to hear the rest of the story::
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