Melissa and I got back from a weekend trip to Wuhan late at night this past Sunday. When we got to the staircase that leads solely to our two apartments, we found the gate ajar. Melissa got freaked out because she clearly remembers locking the gate before leaving (the barber actually mimed that she should do this). What was even more strange was that the floors of the staircase were cleaned of the usual filth, and our trash bucket, which was located outside our door, was missing! Somebody took our trash bucket! We opened the door to our apartment and found that all of our possessions were still intact, which was a great relief. The mystery of missing bucket would have to wait until Monday.
We didn't find any leads during day, but come nightfall, the plot thickened. Melissa and I were getting ready for bed, when we heard footsteps coming up the stairs. The pit-pats came to our door and continued up the stairs. When they got to the apartment above us, we heard the door open and then footsteps above us inside the third floor apartment.
Melissa and I have the only sets of keys to the above apartment. It is supposed to be available to the second volunteer foreign teacher. However, we live together in the second floor apartment because we like seeing each other a lot. This means that the third floor apartment is supposed to be vacant. Ever since the beginning of school, I have been going up to that apartment at night to check out any weird noise because I had this craving to catch somebody trying to live there. When this happened, I was itching to go up there to catch the burglar in action. Melissa even came with me because the noises were so distinct!
We ascended the stairs, unlocked the door and pulled it open. Standing before us was an older Chinese woman trying to explain something to us. Melissa asked, "Do you live here?" in Chinese, and she replied, "Yes." I didn't understand any of this, so I walked in a little further to see what was going on. I looked into the study and found it converted into a bedroom. But what was in the bed was the real shocker. A man under the sheets slowly turned over and peered at me, and I recognized him as Headmaster Li!
I apologized to both of them, as it seemed that I had disturbed the Headmaster's slumber. Totally confused doesn't even begin to describe our state as we went back into our apartment. Before going to sleep, we called our liaison, and she promised to ask around about what might be happening. Needless to say, we were agitated.
She called back today telling us that the Headmaster's apartment, which is right below ours on the first floor, is too wet. So, he decided that he would move to the much drier third floor apartment without telling us. Now, this inconveniences us because we have English Corner up there every Tuesday at 5:15pm. He promised to find us a room for English Corner, but we've heard that promise before. Our plan is to not tell anyone to avoid the third floor apartment. The students will probably go up there later today, knock on the door and be met by a confused Headmaster!
So, what ever happened to the bucket that so mysteriously disappeared? As of now, I can only speculate that it now resides in some crappy janitor's closet after being used to clean the floors of the staircase. What a terrible fate for our beloved trash bucket!
We didn't find any leads during day, but come nightfall, the plot thickened. Melissa and I were getting ready for bed, when we heard footsteps coming up the stairs. The pit-pats came to our door and continued up the stairs. When they got to the apartment above us, we heard the door open and then footsteps above us inside the third floor apartment.
Melissa and I have the only sets of keys to the above apartment. It is supposed to be available to the second volunteer foreign teacher. However, we live together in the second floor apartment because we like seeing each other a lot. This means that the third floor apartment is supposed to be vacant. Ever since the beginning of school, I have been going up to that apartment at night to check out any weird noise because I had this craving to catch somebody trying to live there. When this happened, I was itching to go up there to catch the burglar in action. Melissa even came with me because the noises were so distinct!
We ascended the stairs, unlocked the door and pulled it open. Standing before us was an older Chinese woman trying to explain something to us. Melissa asked, "Do you live here?" in Chinese, and she replied, "Yes." I didn't understand any of this, so I walked in a little further to see what was going on. I looked into the study and found it converted into a bedroom. But what was in the bed was the real shocker. A man under the sheets slowly turned over and peered at me, and I recognized him as Headmaster Li!
I apologized to both of them, as it seemed that I had disturbed the Headmaster's slumber. Totally confused doesn't even begin to describe our state as we went back into our apartment. Before going to sleep, we called our liaison, and she promised to ask around about what might be happening. Needless to say, we were agitated.
She called back today telling us that the Headmaster's apartment, which is right below ours on the first floor, is too wet. So, he decided that he would move to the much drier third floor apartment without telling us. Now, this inconveniences us because we have English Corner up there every Tuesday at 5:15pm. He promised to find us a room for English Corner, but we've heard that promise before. Our plan is to not tell anyone to avoid the third floor apartment. The students will probably go up there later today, knock on the door and be met by a confused Headmaster!
So, what ever happened to the bucket that so mysteriously disappeared? As of now, I can only speculate that it now resides in some crappy janitor's closet after being used to clean the floors of the staircase. What a terrible fate for our beloved trash bucket!
Cullen
