Today was not the most productive day.  Less than a weekend and already I can feel my resolve slipping.  Long story short, I slept in until nearly eleven.  By the time I made it to the shabby lobby all of the comings and goings had came and went.  The only one there was a disheveled older man who gave me very little by way of information.  Our conversation went something like this:

Me:  Hello there, mind if I sit?

Him:  Price is right.

Me:  I'm Sharlene.  What's your name?

Him:  Price is right.

Me:  Heck of a place here, the Gables, I mean.  How long have you...

Him:  Price is right.

You get the idea.  I didn't, at least not until after thirty or forty minutes of pointless conversation, if you can call it that.  Sad thing was, we were watching 'Days of Our Lives'.  He tottered off some time after noon, presumably to eat.  The rest of the afternoon was oppressively lonely, the only other living souls content to flit about like shadows, avoiding my attempts at contact.

But I saw Danny again, just before five, coming through the lobby with a woman.  She looked drunk, which doesn't seem too out of character around here.  But he gave me such a look!  I wanted to run away.  I wanted to run to him.  I wanted to shove the other woman away or take her by the hand and flee together.  My heart did flips over my empty stomach, sending uncomfortable shockwaves up to my brain.  And he just smiled and went on his way.

Strange duck, that Danny.  Strange duck.  Three Tylenol, and I'm off to bed.  Perhaps tomorrow will go better.

RATE THIS CHAPTER!

Author guidance for This story

Sharon Hallsworth is a journalist spending 31 days at the shady apartment complex Evening Gables. Each chapter is a recount of the day's adventures. And remember--Evening Gables isn't known for its tenants' normality... So, to keep things straight, here's a list of unsolved mysteries our intrepid Sharon/Sharlene has encountered... - So, what's up with Danny and his breathing door? - And what of the fact that all tenants move in at New Years' Eve, and that the list was located in Sharon/Sharlene's room? - And where, exactly, is Elaine's husband?

updated Mar 2 '09 by Fluffycrow