7:53am Thursday started out as a pretty normal day. It wasn't a great day because I had been sick for about a week...but I felt like Thursday was looking up for me, I thought I was feeling better than I had in days. I went to work as usual and headed home in the evening. John left for his drive down to FL, so I was alone. On the way out that morning I decided to take the extra precaution and lock the normal lock and the deadbolt on my way out. I had no idea what an impact this decision was going to make on my next 24 hrs.
5:45pm I arrived with hands full of things and put the key in the bottom lock--unlock. Stuck the key in the deadbolt lock--cannot unlock. I was chatting on the phone with John and I started getting really frustrated because the key went in...and to the right to "lock" the door again...but would not go to the right. I wiggled, jiggled, slammed the door, and created a callous on my precious little finger as I tried to turn the key so hard.
5:52 I slammed my body into the door and then got down to the lock and really concentrated on unlocking it slowly. I had the precision of a domino-setter-upper. I moved slowly and my body moved in the direction I needed the key to go.
5:58 Gave up. Screaming and I'm sure cursing, I went to the apartments below me. I knew two guys lived down there and as much as I hate to say it--maybe I just needed a dude to use his muscles to turn the key really hard. It was cold outside and I had been out for quite a few minutes with no gloves, so my hands hurt so bad when I knocked hard on both of the guy's doors. No one home.
6:03 I get in my car in the creepy crawly dark alley and call John. We agree I need to call the property management. I call 411 (twice-ugh, pricey) and finally get talk to the emergency maintenance guy, Scott. We chat, I tell him my dilemma. I feel like I am going to be saved. Boy was I wrong.
6:24 Scott calls me. I'm not on the lease. (Yeah, I know--but friggin' come unlock the top lock!) He says he does not know if he can do it because John isn't there. GRRRRR.
6:47 Scott calls. Can't let me in. I beg and say I will give you all his information and it will match his on his lease papers. He gives me some scenario that someone could have John's phone and all his info and I could be the poser-girlfriend who helps hold the door as we steal the real John's huge TV. He didn't get that detailed, but I could tell where he was going with it.
7:01 I move from the creepy crawly dark alley to a more public parking lot. I call Scott and give him random info about John (with Johnny's permission of course). He says he will call his boss and see.
7:10 No freakin' go. He won't do it. Says he boss won't let him. (I want to say, screw "the man" and let me in!) I start to break down. He says "Can't you go to his work and get his key?" I say no and that he will be gone for a bit. (I remain vague on John's whereabouts--I don't want to get kidnapped on top of being locked outt!!!) Soon after I have to tell him he is not coming back until Sunday. I am totally screwed. . John tried to do that in Chattanooga, but they said it was too late and they don’t overnight things on Saturdays. I tell Scott I have nowhere else to go. No Family close. He says maybe John and overnight you his key. Yeah, John and I already tried that option. John already tried while driving through Chattanooga. It was too late in the day and they don't overnight things to arrive on Saturday. Screwed.
7:30 My bladder was growing weak and my mind delirious. I was very tired, feeling sick, and not happy. I frantically called Jenny {holla!!}, my Alpha Phi friend in St. Louis and left a msg. She did not pick up. John convinces me she is out of town and I almost believe him. Then I realized we emailed and had plans to watch the IU game on Saturday---she couldn't be out of town, could she? My mind wandered even more and I started to feel more panicky. I was homeless, boyfriendless & friendless. John tells me I should just punch out the window and unlock the door. I rethink this request. I would get in, but then anyone could.
7:43 I talk to my Dad and he suggests just asking Scott to unlock the top lock, get paid by me, and walking away. He doesn't have to unlock both locks. I like what my Dad is thinking and I am pretty much desperate so I call Scott and say "Heeey....why don't you just unlock the top--and we call it night." He called his boss again...and I was left waiting in the dark in car.
7:50 I decide to go to Panera to use the Ladies’ room and maybe get a bite to eat. It's about 1 block from the apartment, so frustrating that I can't eat the food I just bought from the grocery store the day before. While in the bathroom I wash my hands in the sink, not knowing the next place I will be able to go the bathroom. I contemplate taking a paper towel bath. I had flashbacks of backpacking in Europe and washing my face and getting ready for the day in random public bathrooms. It was kinda like that in Panera, but without the whole backpack of belongings and desirible destinations. Places close soon and I thought about finding a nice waterhole to hang out at until 'bout 3am.
8:00 Get my final "no" from Scott. He apologizes and stresses he has done everything he can do. Argh--I want him to do what I want him to do, but that's not in the cards. He says his “hands are tied” and I pretty much did everything short of selling my body, so I give up. I get in touch with Jenny and decide to stay there, not knowing when I will ever return to the apartment. I could possibly spend the whole wkd in the same clothes and uncomfortable brown shoes from work. I spilled tomato soup on my pants at lunch and I would have to live with that mistake allll weekend. I decide to head to Target to pick up the necessities.
8:20pm I decide I need to get a shirt for work and maybe I can pull off the tomato soup stained brown paints and uncomfy shoes the next day. I hit up the 99 cent aisle for some soap, facewash, travel toothbrush, etc. As I moved towards the clothing, I tried to look for the good in the situation; I pat myself on the back for wearing brown pants--"Such a neutral color Whitney," I tell myself. "I can buy anything that will work with it—so many options." But with the night I was having, I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. I walk to the women's department and the floor is flooded with bikinis, tankinis, cute little cover-ups, and every other piece of clothing one would wear on the beach. Not only am I stressed because of my night, I become stressed to get ready for swimsuit season. Wtf-It is JANUARY 5th--I need a sweater. (I must admit that the swimsuits were all really cute. Very nice prints)
8:27 Am I approached by a fellow shopper carrying this really cute jacket. She walks up to me and says "This is a really cute jacket, maybe you would like it & it is on clearance." Wow-did something good just happen to me? She continued, "I am a Mom and I thought that this gray cardigan would be more practical for me, so maybe you want this cute jacket." (Don't worry, I got it even cheaper than what is posted on Target.com-Ha) All of the sudden I have a personal stylist at Target and we start talking about shirts that can go under the jacket and things start to look up for me. I just got a white tee to put under it, I needed cheap stuff. I walked past the accessories section and saw the cutest necklace. I convinced myself that I could get it because of the emotional drama I had been through. Also, I thought the necklace could serve to be a great decoy. It would maybe catch people's attention and they wouldn’t realize that I am basically wearing the same outfit as the day before, but with a different jacket. Yeah, the necklace with trick them. They won’t be able to keep their eyes off of it. No one will see the tomato stain. I checked the outfit out in the mirror. All I had to do was hold up the jacket and necklace and I knew what I would look like in the morning.
8:45 Grab my last minute buys, some PJs, socks, and undies. I didn't know how many to get, so I just stuck to a nice little 3 pack--I wanted to stay on the positive side of things.
9:00 Exhausted by the past 3 hrs of being homeless, I arrive at Jenny's with all my belongings in the Target bag. I feel like a transient. My phone dies and I have no charger. I change in my new jammies and try to relax for a bit. I play with Zach Morris, Jenny's kitty, and he bites me. We were both exhausted and decide to crash.
**Update**
Even with all the awful circumstances, today wasn't horrible. But I was really exhausted all day because I didn't get the best sleep because it was hard to fully relax and not be worried that I could be locked out for days on end. I wore my cute new jacket and the necklace decoy. I'm not sure if the necklace really fulfilled its purpose by attempting to make my outfit look different, but at least I have a cute necklace now. John called his contact at the property management place and I got a key Friday afternoon--that worked. I guess Wal-Mart made a faulty key copy that only locks doors, not unlocks them. Scott called me to apologize and probably make sure I didn't spend the night in the park, befriending the pigeons. He also said the 2 guys that live below John work for the property manager and they could probably help me. He also offered to help me if anything more happened because I guess I passed the "I’m not going to steal the tenant's TV" test.
Anyway, I don't know what the moral of this story is. I'm sure there are many other details I have left out, but I was delerious then and I'm delerious now. Maybe it's wear cute pants that you like everyday because you might have to wear the same outfit again. Or wear something neutral that you can easily find something to match. Or keep a flashy accessory in your glove box to distract the fashion police. Maybe just don't spill tomato soup-it will come back to haunt you. Or pack enough make-up in your purse that you will be happy with it stranded. I was happy to find some powder and lip gloss. Having a friend to call to help you out. These little joys that I took for granted on a daily basis became the things that helped me get by. Have a wonderful weekend and appreciate locking and unlocking your doors.
Just be fully prepared for anything. If this doesn't scare you, I don't know what will. Go raid the 99 cent aisle, pack some undies, and keep a secret stash of emergency everything in your trunk.
*A few pictures links have been dramatized for effect.
