Discovery of terrible problem+Less. 1

“Your character moves into a new apartment.

“On the surface, the place seemed ideal, but his/her first night there, your character discovers a terrible problem with the place that he/she didn’t take into account…”

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Thirty years ago, I received a flyer advertising a 3-week training session to be held 500 miles from my home– quite a distance for just a few credits and a bit of crowd- sourcing. But such professional development events can often lead to adventure or romance, so I signed up and off I drove. At the registration table I met a few female staffers – who were reminiscent of folks I worked with back home, then headed for the dorm to unpack and settle in for the next few weeks.

The dorm reminded me of college days because, upon opening the door to my room, I was surprised to learn I’d be sharing accommodations with someone who was in a program unrelated to mine. But he was friendly, and knew more about the campus than I, so I was able to rely upon him for information. We shared the room for just the weekend, and though I almost never saw him, I did think it rather unusual to see he had no sheets on his bed, though he did have a sleeping bag. And within 3 days he’d vanished…but not without a trace.

He was gone scarcely a day when I realized he’d left behind what had to be either bed bugs or lice.  Following every published remedy, I put all of my clothes into the washing machine on “HOT”, tossed my comb and brush into the dumpster, and raced to the drugstore. I purchased the recommended “3-Step Lice Solution Kit”, showered, applied the “solution” and waited…without result. I itched and scratched and resolved that a) no one would find me out, and that I’d dispatch it fast – no matter what it took. I frantically laundered, laved and lotioned for days– with zero improvement.

I was berserk – whereas I could manage to tolerate the interminable itching, I was terrified that my condition would be discovered and I’d be labeled – god knows what – and at what cost to my professional reputation. Within a week’s time, the ‘solution’ I’d purchased finally released me from a living hell. It’d be difficult to recall what I learned from the training that week.  Most assuredly there was neither romance nor adventure, just painful details of my torturous experience. And, I have kept my vow never again to spend a night in a dorm.

By John D