the View from the Bottom

[Galahinda]

It has been sleeting in Cascadia for the past three days, the warmest winter on record left the warehouse district’s asphalt slick and grimy to the point of treachery. As the new year was rung in with champagne, cocaine, and confetti in the towers of the rich; the working underbelly of Galahinda found themselves shivering in the lines into nightclubs and cabarets, and greeting baby new year with a bottle of their own. Stumbling home from one such dive was Markus Neull, his paper-thin coat hanging damp from his twiggy frame. Stopping to poke his head into a side alley to retch, his regard slipped past the uncollected trash bags, puddles, and flotilla of cigarette butts, and upward to the group of leather-clad denizens whose meeting he was interrupting. With a grim wave, he righted himself and stepped onto the street toward the grimy five-story concrete building he called home. 

Stomping off the greying sludge from his work boots, he ascended the concrete stairwell towards his third-floor flat. Shoving the door at the top of the stairwell open he nearly ran face-first into his elderly neighbor, he apologized as she stumbled back, her gritty voice cursing his family name while he slipped past. Trudging down the dimly lit hallway he came to a stop at apartment 503. The usually drab faded red of the door was interrupted by a shock of yellow paper, pasted squarely at eye level. 

 

ATTENÇION / ATTENTION

AVÏS FYNALE / FINAL NOTICE

 

CE BÂTIMENT EST SUR LE POINT D’DÉMOLI DANZ LE CADRE D’A CONSTRUCTION D’A LISGNE DE MÉTRO CERUELAN.

THIS BUILDING IS SET TO BE DEMOLISHED DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CERULEAN METRO LINE. 

 

DATE D'EXPULSION FYNALE : 14 JANVÏER 2025 FY41

FINAL EVICTION DATE: JANUARY 14TH 2025 FY41

 

VEUILLEZ ADRESSER TOUTES VOS QUESTIONS À LA LIGNE D'ASSISTANCE CLIENTÈLE DE CONSORT™ AU: +609915552731

PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS TO THE CONSORT™ CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE AT: +609915552731

 

Tearing the paper from the door, fumbling with his keys, and shouldering the door open, Markus was greeted with the same decay that marked the rest of the building. Cracked plaster, a kitchen faucet dripping onto a pile of unwashed dishes, and a whirring air conditioning unit all greeted him as he shut the door behind him. Uncrumpling the paper and pulling out his phone, he dialed the listed number and shucked off his coat while it dialed. 

After a few moments, he heard the click of the line connecting and was greeted with a synthesized female voice.

“Merci d'avoir appelé le support client de ConSort, pour galaçoise appuyez sur un, pour l'anglish appuyez sur deux, pour entendre d'autres options de langue appuyez sur trois. Thank you for calling the customer support line for ConSort, for Galaçoise, press one, for Anglish press tw-”

With an eye roll, Markus jabbed two, interrupting the grating voice before it could finish its monologue.

“You have selected Anglish, for materials and equipment press one, for construction press two, for support regarding construction projects press three, for-”

Interrupting once again, he opted for the construction support line.

“You have selected support regarding construction projects, to request our services press one, for a list of current projects press two, to speak to a representative regarding delays, interruptions, or other questions press thr-”

“You have opted to speak to a representative, please remain on the line while we connect to the first available representative, you are currently seventh in line.”

With a sigh of relief after navigating the veritable maze of customer support, Markus put in his headphones, set his phone down, and began the task of preparing for bed. The phone cycled between periodic reminders of his position in the queue, advertisements for ConSort services, and heavily compressed royalty-free music. It wasn’t until an hour had passed; It wasn’t until he was nearing a nervous breakdown if he had to endure another repetition of, “Looking to renovate your vacation property? New ConSort winter renovation services means you can give yourself the gift of a new look this solstice season, with ConSort!” that he was finally connected to a representative.

“Hello and thank you for calling the ConSort customer service line, my name is Luiza, how can I help you?”

Spitting the toothpaste out of his mouth, Markus collected himself and responded, “Hi! Yes, happy new year, I'm calling about a final notice for demolition, is this true?”

“Happy New Year, before I can respond I must inform you that this call is being recorded for quality assurance purposes, this conversation is not guaranteed to provide relief, clarity, or alterations to preexisting plans. Additionally, this recording may be used for training, vocal analytics, and marketing purposes. Do you accept these terms?”

“Yes”

“Great! How can I be of assistance today?”

“Like I said, I received a notice that my apartment is set for demolition, this is the first I've heard of it?”

“Alright, do you have an address for your apartment building?”

“224 West Harbor Drive, Apartment 503”

“Alright give me just a moment to see if we have any projects underway, let me place you on a brief hold.”

Before he could even respond, the line clicked and the incessant music resumed. It was another five minutes and 3 advertisements for services he could never dream of affording before Luiza returned.

“Alright, Markus right? It looks like that building is scheduled for demolition on the fifteenth of January this year, does this answer your question?”
“Not really!” he replied severely, “How is this the first I’m hearing of it?”

“I'm sorry, but it looks like the notice of intent for demolition was first posted on our website in July, your building management should have informed you then.”

“I don’t have building management, ConSort owns this building, I rent through you.”

“Do you have the ConSort Renter Hub app?”

“No, I don't.”

“Looking here it seems that a notice was sent to your renters inbox on the app.”

“Well, that doesn’t really help me does it?”

“I’m sorry, but since the notice was sent to you three times over the last six months there’s not much I can do. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“You’re telling me you don’t have to tell me in person that you’re gonna demolish my apartment?”
“Clause seven point three two of your rental agreement states all relevant communications between renters and building management will be handled through the Consort Renter Hub, which is available as an app and in browsers. It is your responsibility to check it regularly for any relevant updates regarding your rental status. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“Is there a relocation fund, or will ConSort house me since you’re destroying my damn house?”

“Sorry sir, but applications for relocation assistance were sent out in these notices, and the deadline for them was November thirty first.”
“So I’m on my own to find housing in the middle of winter.”

“Unfortunately there is no further assistance being provided by ConSort. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No, not really.” replied Markus, incandescent with anger.

“Alright, well I hope this has been helpful, thank you for choosing ConSort and i-”

Markus ended the call before she could even finish, and with a shout punched the wall next to the mirror, leaving a sizable hole in the plaster. Well, it’s not like I have to worry about getting a security deposit. 

Edited January 14 by Galahinda (see edit history)