The hoarder family that lived around the block when I was a kid had three kids, one of which had mental issues caused from the living conditions it was said. I remember hearing rumors about the home from my parents & overhearing other adults talking about it, but had never been inside because they probably were too embarrassed to invite friends over to play. The parents were respected members of the community, the wife an educator and the husband a pastor who was also an educator.

Well, one day mother had to go over there for some reason & I begged her to take me too because I just had to see this place for myself. She agreed, but said I could not comment on what I saw and to act "normal." Let's just say the rumors did not do the place justice. It was totally surreal. There was stuff & boxes everywhere, some piles of it were at least six feet high with a small clearance from the ceiling, with small narrow trails to get around the mess. There were stacks and stacks of books, with stacks even on the stairs going upstairs that I could see that just left a tiny narrow foot trail to negotiate. We were offered refreshments, but of course they were refused. The kitchen was completely blocked from view by boxes and junk, but if the rest of the house was any indication of cleanliness, no one in their right mind would eat anything from that place. The couch we were sitting on seemed like some little island oasis that was constantly under threat from being overrun from the looks of things. That was ages ago, but the memory of that place is unforgettable.

---

anonymous 4 years ago