December 15, 2005

• Invasion of the Simpsons

  So it's my last semester in grad school and I'm living in adorm.  That wouldn't have been my first choice, but I couldn't find an apartment for just one semester.  Anyway, with the way the rooms are set up I share a bathroom with the guy living next to me.  The bathroom is in between our two rooms, and each of us has a door to it.  What's the big deal, you ask?  Well I'll tell you.  It all has to do with my crazy bathroom neighbor.  At first, everything seemed normal.  I never really even saw him unless I passed by him in the hallway.  Then, one day during the semester, that all changed...

  I was in the bathroom one day, minding my own business, when I heard the familiar sounds of the Simpsons intro resonating through the doorleading to my neighbor's room.  Nothing wrong with that... it's a funny show.  I gave it no more thought, returning to the room from whence I came.  A while later, when I next entered the bathroom, I could hear the excited voice of Homer Simpson.  He had gotten himself into some sort of trouble, as usual.  Homer, you silly oaf you…  "Ah," I thought to myself, "he must really like the show."  I left the bathroom and continued along with my daily business.

  The next time I went into the bathroom, I was surprised to hear the Simpsons playing in the room next door.  "Hmm," I thought. "How many episodes is he going to watch?"  I soon had my answer.  I still heard it the next time I entered the bathroom, and the time after that, and the time after that.  Hours stretched into days.  The days turned into weeks, the weeks into months.  My neighbor literally watched the show ALL DAY LONG.  If he was in his room, sounds of the Simpsons could be heard wafting through the air.  Sometimes I'd get up during the night to get a drink of water and be joined by Barney's drunken ramblings.  Other times I'd wake up early for a job interview or to go to class (yeah right...;) ) and Krusty the Klown's laughter would welcome me to the new day.

  I couldn't understand what was happening.  Isn't this guy a pre-med?  Does he really not have any work to do?  What the hell is going on here??  My world was in disarray.  Then, one day... there was silence.

  Could it be??  Could he have finally run out of episodes?  Did he really watch all 15 seasons in under a single semester?  The silence continued for a few days.  I thought that perhaps it was finally over.  Memories of the Simpsons faded into the past like forgotten dreams.  All was well in the world.  And then, something happened.

  I was in the bathroom when I heard a noise in my neighbor’s room.  "Whatever could that be?" I wondered.  And then it hit me.  The familiar sounds of the Seinfeld intro started to emanate from my neighbor's door.  It had begun... 
  

  • 4:38 am
  • 4 Comments