Creeping Plants

Dear Diary: Entry one. 2006- September 23

Every morning, I wake up. I slip on my robe, walk out to the kitchen, put two slices of bread in the toaster, and grab the watering can to water the obnoxious spider plant and philodendron my upstairs roommate had left behind when she moved into the married housing across the city. I wanted to get rid of them, (the plants, I swear! Not the people) but the girl who replaced her, Makayla, insisted on leaving them in the front room, to give the empty blank walls some atmosphere. Of course that meant she should be the one to take care of them, right?

Wrong. I rarely saw Makayla. Those freshmen types always take their new found freedom way too seriously. Late night parties, coming back with a guy and turning up the music way loud at three o’clock in the morning on a school night: you get the idea.

Last night was an especially bad night. I had to wake up at five to get ready for work, and they were up the whole night. I don’t know what I’d rather do: call the police for breaking Municipal quiet hours, or call the manager for breaking the no guys in girls’ apartments past one rule.

I also don’t know where she is from, but I hate the fact that she never locks the door. No, strike that; she’ll lock the door. She just won’t close it. I’m sorry, but living on the first floor, I am an easy target for whoever decides to sneak in and steal books and laptops. And before you start thinking I’m paranoid, the crime reports have been off the charts lately for the apartments in my area.  Mostly petty thefts, but there was a girl two days ago…

Sorry, I got off topic. I meant to tell you about the odd happenings of today, not rant about my roommate. Today is my birthday, and my routine started normally. Woke up, slipped my robe over my tank and short shorts, two pieces of toast, watering can. I turned to water the plants, and they weren’t there. I looked around the small room until I saw them in the opposite corner, hiding the microwave. I guessed that Makayla had just moved them in her partying mood last night and didn’t put them back. But why in front of the microwave? I decided it was nothing, but I’m still very concerned.

Had a great day; my old roommate threw me a surprise party. She tried to set me up with twelve different guys. I didn’t even know half of the people who showed up.
I just wish that Makayla would quiet down. She’s home early, and I haven’t had the chance to sleep yet.

Dear Diary: Entry two. 2006- October 12th

Alright, I am officially freaked. I keep asking Makayla to stop moving the plants. She said she’s never touched them, but somehow they keep getting closer and closer to my room. This morning, they were right in front of my door. I had no choice but to move them. I had avoided them the past week hoping that if I ignored them, they would stop torturing me. It seemed to work until today, when I had no choice but to move them.
I also notice that they seem to be placed in exposed places in the room. Places where you could easily see into all of the adjoining rooms.

I placed a video camera in the vanity and one in the kitchen. Maybe I’ll catch someone on tape.

My inside door is locked tonight, and I’m considering sleeping in the shower and locking the bathroom door as well.

I’ve always been a really light sleeper. Maybe I’ll keep my phone on me, just in case.

Dear Diary: Entry three. 2006 –October 13th

Friday. You’d think I’d be relieved.

I saw someone last night. He sat on the edge of my bed and played with my hair. I was so freaked out that I dropped the phone behind the bed in my haste to call the police. The movement startled him enough though, that he disappeared into the dark shadows of the room, but not before whispering, “Don’t worry my love, soon we will be together.”
I checked the cameras with my friend Terrell. The only thing we can see is the plant moving and a shadow flicker in front of the lens.

I’m asking him to cue the tapes again.

Saturday, Oct. 15th 2006
The SUU Tribune
Girl Goes Missing. Police Have No Leads

Southern Utah University Junior Samantha Tucker was reported missing by her senior friend, Terrell Jackson, who said Sam had been on the receiving ends of some seemingly harmless pranks for the past few weeks. When the police took a look at the tapes from the cameras the two had installed in her apartment, they saw that no one had entered or left the room since the time Samantha had turned in for the night. The only thing they found on the preliminary investigation were two potted plants entwined together, sitting right in front of the bedroom door, making it almost impossible to open the door from the outside.

Police are waiting twenty four hours before declaring this a missing persons case. If you have any information please call the Campus Hotline.

~Casey Sun