Tessa Cridley (Apt. 505)

Tessa was great fan of chilly weather. Summer heat made her want to do nothing more than to stay inside with a good book and a DVR full of Lords of Law. But in the fall, Tessa was much more active. Something about the sunshine with a brisk wind put her into a more sociable mood. Today was one of those days, so when she happened upon a flyer for the town’s Bessie Mae hosted Fall Festival, she thought it was worth the trip to Bessie Mae’s ranch. She texted Margot: Bessie Mae Fall Festival! You game? Margot replied: Sick. Go on without me. Tessa was itching to get out into the world, so she decided to take this excursion without her best friend. She donned on her trusted hoodie and a festive striped scarf and went about the town, leaving Scram to his own devices. She hopped on the Sneade Station uptown and soon arrived at the Fall Festival. The Festival was a brightly decorated venue full of people. I also had crafts, games, and bouncy houses overlooking a large s...

Several days after the initial encounter, Scram, Tessa’s unwelcomed Vader-black tabby cat, still slinked around her apartment. For the past couple of days it was the center of her misfortune. It kept knocking things over, drinking all the milk, and it claimed Tessa’s favorite part of the bed. Scram was a diva, and it caused great frustration. However, she could never bring herself to throw it out. Whether it was its silky smooth fur, adorable purrs, or simply providing company on the stormy nights, Scram had dug its way into a spot in Tessa’s heart. As Tessa cleaned out her painting canvases that apparently served as Scram’s litterbox, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Margot: Free today. Wanna hang? Tessa sprung at the opportunity. She needed to get out of her apartment. She brushed her hair back, grabbed her hoodie, and stepped out the door, taking good care to make sure it was locked. Satisfied, she headed out of the Meridian. Ten minutes later, she was by Margot’s side dr...

The day started with monotony. It continued into the afternoon and bled into the evening. Not much can be expected working in the basement archives of the public library and Tessa Cridley never expected much anymore. She organized, shelved, and cataloged the books with robotic autonomy. Her phone alarm rang, signaling the end of her shift. As she packed her belongings her neck hairs stood on end. She got the feeling she was being watched. She slowly wheeled around. A Vader-black tabby cat was perched on one the shelves. It observed her with curious deep green eyes. Sufficiently creeped out, Tessa scooted towards the library exit, only to bump into her friend Margot. “Whoops! Watch the tea, T,” Margot said, balancing a cup of coffee and tea on a tray. “Thought you might like some before I head to class.” Tessa took her cup and they headed down the block. It was pouring. Both she and Margot thrust up umbrellas and hastened down Bond Street. “So what’s wrong?” Margot inquired. “Y...