Jardine 1: 1A

1A moved in yesterday. Though it already feels like it has been longer.

I live in Jardine 1C and the floor is lettered A-E. Until just yesterday, A had been empty.

I was walking to the kitchen yesterday and saw someone finally entering 1A. I extended a hand that received a glance, at which I withdrew said hand and began to twiddle my thumbs. My new hallmate told me her name - which I have now forgotten - but said I could call her Fran.

This morning, I sleepily walked into the kitchen, and shortly after entering, Fran came in. I said good morning, which received a like reply. I then asked how she was, which received a silence. I saw her pour cereal into a grey bowl and then she walked out of the kitchen. (I don't like people in the morning either, that's fine.)

After she left, I saw a note posted on the tv in our common room (sadly, the TV functions better as a bulletin board than a TV). The note was hand written and said, "Has anyone seen my white mug with the black stripe. I cannot find it. - Soundes." I knew which mug this note referred to and I knew I had seen it, somewhere. I was having one of those foggy moments as when you set down your keys right before you walk out the door. I then walked to the counter and saw it sitting right there. I looked at it and it looked slightly used. I went back to making my coffee.

Then Soundes entered. She was moving around in a busy way. I said, "Oh, Soundes, I saw your letter, and I think your mug is right over there." I pointed and she turned her head.

She said, "This was not so fifteen minutes ago. That was not here." She then looked inside - "And it's used! Look at this. Do you see this? I washed this at 11 last night and it was sitting on the drying rack, and now it is used." I nodded and tried to be as sympathetic as I could first thing in the morning.

Soundes frantically washed her mug, while slightly muttering. She opened the cabinet to put her mug away and she said, "My bowl!" (I knew that bowl had looked familiar.) I turned my head and I said, "Your bowl?"

She said, "My bowl is gone! My grey bowl, it's gone!"

I thought this was an appropriate time to say, "Have you met the new flatmate?"

Needless to say, Soundes had not met the new flatmate.

Soundes took the note off of the TV, she crossed out mug and wrote below it "grey bowl." She then re-posted it on the TV.

I returned to the kitchen about two hours later to find a used grey bowl sitting in the kitchen sink, full of water. All I knew was I didn't want to be there when that was found.

I was gone for most of the evening and returned to my flatmate Rie warming a crumpet. I went to pour myself some milk and wondered when I had used so much that it was almost empty. But I did not think much of it. I then began to put away the dishes. Rie and I have almost identical frying pans so I said, "Is this one yours?" She said, "Yes, I suppose... but I didn't use it..."

I knew exactly what was about to happen now.

I silently continued to put away my dishes. Rie then said, "These are my plates. I did not use these."

I once again thought it an appropriate time to say, "Have you met the new flatmate?"

I thought our flat was odd but it seems it was actually missing some oddity- and now it has been added. We now have a silent, kleptically - inclined flatmate from Korea. Good. I will say, at least she equally borrows. It's like a little living tax.