Fleming Storage Unit #27 Memetic Mary

The air was cool and dry as I backed my U-Haul pick-up to Fleming Storage Unit #27. After a moment of panic, I realized I had the key in my jacket pocket and not attached to my normal key ring. Thank goodness, I didn't waste a two-hour drive only to have forgotten the key at home! I opened the padlock and slid the door up. I had remembered to pack a camping lantern, but I left it in the cab of the truck. Turns out that there was plenty of ambient daylight. It was almost hard to believe that I had left all of this stuff here seven years ago. Almost seven years exactly... Today was October 10, 2017. The last time I was in Havre was October 4, 2008. The day I closed this storage unit and didn't look back.

So why was I here, seven years later? I received a letter in the mail from Fleming Storage Units. Turns out, it was shutting down and we needed to vacate our belongings. Something in the letter said a body was found in another unit? I don't know any more than the letter told me, but it did say that if we didn't get our stuff from the storage units, then they would be sold at a police auction. Unit 27 is where I stored all the stuff my grandfather had left in his house after he died. I didn't have any time or desire to really go through it when he passed. I just wanted to get out of Havre since I had nothing more there.

After Grandpa's death seven years back, I was the only one around. Dad was in jail and Mom had just up and disappeared one day. So I just shoved it all in a storage unit, locked the door, signed the paperwork for automatic withdrawal and left. Luckily, Grandpa's estate wasn't big, all his stuff that I didn't throw out like old clothes and his furniture fit in just one unit. He also left me some money as well, so I used that to pay for the unit. At something like $260 per year, his extra cash would have covered the better part of a decade.

So there I was, almost seven years later, and in a much better mental state, looking at an opportunity to close that chapter of my life. I figured that this would be as good as time as any to finally go through that crap and see if there was anything worthwhile. I imagined that when I put this stuff in storage that I may find a Superman #1 or something like that, but realistically I knew that it was probably more along the lines of knick-knacks that would sell for a few bucks each. I think he had some real silverware; if nothing else, I could sell that for the precious metal at least. I live down in Great Falls, about 2 hours or so south of Havre, just off Rt. 87. We were originally from Havre, but after everything that happened, I moved out and got a place in Great Falls.

I had paid time off from the therapy office I work at and decided to take a week off to visit Havre with a U-Haul and clear out the unit. I didn't remember much of the area, so I did some digging online and found that in the plaza next door there are a bunch of restaurants and a consignment shop. I figured that I could stay and unload some stuff while enjoying some takeout food without feeling guilty. I booked a motel several miles down Rt. 2, about 30 minutes away and was all set to stay in the area.

So, on the morning of October 10th, I started out from home with the U-Haul and drove up I-87 to Havre. It overall was a pleasant morning and drive. Clear weather and comfortable temperatures made for a rather scenic cruise up to Havre. I stopped and treated myself to a greasy spoon breakfast and got a large coffee to go. Finishing the drive, I was surprised by how many people were already at Fleming Storage by the time I arrived around noon. All around the place, people were opening units and digging stuff out. I enjoy chatting while working, so I tried drumming up conversation but not many folks were close enough to talk.

I pulled empty boxes from the U-Haul and started going through the packed storage unit. Damn, how did I get all this stuff here? Most of what I found was junk. Many old papers went straight into boxes labeled "trash". Occasionally, I would find an old piece of artwork, appliance, or interesting knick-knack that Grandpa had kept that I put into the "sell" box. While I was working, another car pulled up two units down from me. I waved and continued working.