Away We Go!
The last thing I thought I would be doing on Christmas Eve was going across town to look at an apartment. But, it so happened that is what I did this morning. I got a call from April. April is the lovely owner of an apartment building sort of. She calls it a building but it is more like a tri-plex. In the front is a small house that she said students rented. Then further back is a smaller apartment and above that to the side is a bigger apartment. And they all are at the end of a long driveway.
April called me right at 9am. I guess she is an early Christmas Eve riser. So, I answered the phone in my just woke up voice and she asked if I was asleep. I told her that I wasn't. She woke me up so I wasn't. She told me about the apartment and the location and the rent she wanted and the deposit, the deposit was more then twice the rent. I was thinking that should I really go and see this place knowing that the deposit would take every dime I didn't have. I took a minute to think about it and then decided that it wouldn't hurt to go and look and if I liked it maybe I could make some sort of deal with her because she sounded open to it on the phone. I told her that I would be there at 11. Which gave me time to shower and change and get Joshua up and eat breakfast.
We got a ride to her place and while we were in the car I get a call from her at 10:53. She said she wanted to know if I was lost. I wasn't. I used to live in that neighborhood and knew where it was. She said she was getting nervous thinking that something might have happened to us and she was outside sweeping and would flag us down when we got there. She asked what kind of car and the color that we were driving. I told her. I thought that this woman is really anxious. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
We got there at 11am on the dot and as promised she was outside in the front sweeping and waving when she saw us. We parked across the street and got out to a still waving and smiling middle aged, tall, and thin woman, wearing jeans, a blue shirt and green gardening boots. She introduced herself as we crossed the street and said that the place is in the back and she led the way. She took off her shoes at the door before she opened it and right off the bat I noticed something that was not going to work for me and an active 9 year old who occasionally likes to play in mud puddles. On the floor was a snow white carpet. This carpet was shag and the whitest carpet I had ever seen. I was thinking I should take off my shoes too but I didn't. I was imagining what that rug would look like after a week of me and Josh living there not too mention our other family members.
She lead us into a small living area. I can't even call it a living room because there was almost no room. In that area she had a small chair and a small loveseat couch and a table in the middle of the two. She said that the furniture didn't come with the place she was just storing it because she had it just brought it from a garage sale and was planning on selling it to the students in the front house. She then lead us to a large kitchen that was right off of the living area. The kitchen she told me was remodeled and she put in new counter tops. The fridge was not new nor the stove which she purchased from a second hand store. In the kitchen sat a small table and on the small table was a laptop computer all owned by her. The cabinets were average size and painted white and she reached inside one of them to grab herself a glass. She asked me if I wanted a beverage or water. I told her we were good. She then opened the fridge and grabbed a can of soda and poured it into her glass. I was thinking and wondering was she staying here until it was rented or what? She then lead us to the tiny bathroom and told me that she had installed a new shower recently.
The bedrooms were on either side of the bathroom. The first bedroom she showed us was small. She asked if I had a big bed because if I did then it probably wouldn't fit in that room. She measured it and it could hold a twin size bed and maybe a dresser no more then that. And to prove her point she had a twin size bed and dresser in the room. The closet almost reminded me of locker and inside the closet there were some sneakers and a pair of pants. I didn't ask. She then lead me past the a small mirror that was hanging on the wall in between the bathrooms and the bedrooms to the second bedroom which she called the master bedroom. Believe me it was no master bedroom. It was a little bigger then the first but not by much. You could probably fit either one full size bed in there or two twin size beds. That room was empty except for one mirror hanging on the wall. She told me that bedroom would be good for me and that Josh could have the other one. I just nodded in agreement.
She then lead us back into the living area and sat down on the couch. I took a seat on the chair and Josh sat on the floor near me. So, she then asked about the other members of my family again and I explained to her the make up of my family and she seemed to be okay with that and then she went into a whole story of who lived in the upstairs apartment. She said it was a young lady in her 20's and she had a baby also. She said that she let her move in without a deposit because of the girls situation in her old house. Then she explained to me that she made a home visit to the girl's old apartment to see her housekeeping. I really thought that was totally strange. So, she asked me if I wouldn't mind a home visit like she did to the other tenant. I told her I would. She could pass by and look at the outside of the place but I didn't think a home visit was appropriate. She sort of frowned when I said that. Then she said that another young woman might be interested in the apartment and she had asked her where her child's father was. She wanted to know if he was in jail or on probation or was a part of the child's life. She said she asks that of all single moms. The girls answer was that it wasn't her business and she left quickly. April took that as a sign that her boyfriend was a criminal. I couldn't believe all that I was hearing but it was almost like a car wreak where you couldn't look away. I couldn't believe this madness but I didn't walk out yet.
Then she told me about the students in the front house. Apparently, there were 4 of them. All men, all seniors in college who were moving out in July. And she explained to me that this place had low ceilings because it used to be a garage she converted. I sort of thought so when we entered it but wasn't sure.
She then stood up and shook my hand and gave me an application in case I was interested in renting and we walked to the car and left. Josh asked me does everyone ask all those questions. I told him no this was the exception not the rule.
We headed for home and just when we got back to our house the phone rang. It was April. She asked if I was interested in the place. I told her I would have to talk it over with my family and would let her know and so she said well, she had some seniors coming later in the afternoon to look at it. I can just imagine what she is going to ask them. I was guessing that one of the questions would be if they had grandkids and how often do they visit.
After I told my mom about the meeting with Miss April she couldn't stop shaking her head and laughing. I then called April and told her thanks but no thanks. She sounded surprised and then said well, maybe the seniors would take it. I wished her luck and a Merry Christmas.
April called me right at 9am. I guess she is an early Christmas Eve riser. So, I answered the phone in my just woke up voice and she asked if I was asleep. I told her that I wasn't. She woke me up so I wasn't. She told me about the apartment and the location and the rent she wanted and the deposit, the deposit was more then twice the rent. I was thinking that should I really go and see this place knowing that the deposit would take every dime I didn't have. I took a minute to think about it and then decided that it wouldn't hurt to go and look and if I liked it maybe I could make some sort of deal with her because she sounded open to it on the phone. I told her that I would be there at 11. Which gave me time to shower and change and get Joshua up and eat breakfast.
We got a ride to her place and while we were in the car I get a call from her at 10:53. She said she wanted to know if I was lost. I wasn't. I used to live in that neighborhood and knew where it was. She said she was getting nervous thinking that something might have happened to us and she was outside sweeping and would flag us down when we got there. She asked what kind of car and the color that we were driving. I told her. I thought that this woman is really anxious. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
We got there at 11am on the dot and as promised she was outside in the front sweeping and waving when she saw us. We parked across the street and got out to a still waving and smiling middle aged, tall, and thin woman, wearing jeans, a blue shirt and green gardening boots. She introduced herself as we crossed the street and said that the place is in the back and she led the way. She took off her shoes at the door before she opened it and right off the bat I noticed something that was not going to work for me and an active 9 year old who occasionally likes to play in mud puddles. On the floor was a snow white carpet. This carpet was shag and the whitest carpet I had ever seen. I was thinking I should take off my shoes too but I didn't. I was imagining what that rug would look like after a week of me and Josh living there not too mention our other family members.
She lead us into a small living area. I can't even call it a living room because there was almost no room. In that area she had a small chair and a small loveseat couch and a table in the middle of the two. She said that the furniture didn't come with the place she was just storing it because she had it just brought it from a garage sale and was planning on selling it to the students in the front house. She then lead us to a large kitchen that was right off of the living area. The kitchen she told me was remodeled and she put in new counter tops. The fridge was not new nor the stove which she purchased from a second hand store. In the kitchen sat a small table and on the small table was a laptop computer all owned by her. The cabinets were average size and painted white and she reached inside one of them to grab herself a glass. She asked me if I wanted a beverage or water. I told her we were good. She then opened the fridge and grabbed a can of soda and poured it into her glass. I was thinking and wondering was she staying here until it was rented or what? She then lead us to the tiny bathroom and told me that she had installed a new shower recently.
The bedrooms were on either side of the bathroom. The first bedroom she showed us was small. She asked if I had a big bed because if I did then it probably wouldn't fit in that room. She measured it and it could hold a twin size bed and maybe a dresser no more then that. And to prove her point she had a twin size bed and dresser in the room. The closet almost reminded me of locker and inside the closet there were some sneakers and a pair of pants. I didn't ask. She then lead me past the a small mirror that was hanging on the wall in between the bathrooms and the bedrooms to the second bedroom which she called the master bedroom. Believe me it was no master bedroom. It was a little bigger then the first but not by much. You could probably fit either one full size bed in there or two twin size beds. That room was empty except for one mirror hanging on the wall. She told me that bedroom would be good for me and that Josh could have the other one. I just nodded in agreement.
She then lead us back into the living area and sat down on the couch. I took a seat on the chair and Josh sat on the floor near me. So, she then asked about the other members of my family again and I explained to her the make up of my family and she seemed to be okay with that and then she went into a whole story of who lived in the upstairs apartment. She said it was a young lady in her 20's and she had a baby also. She said that she let her move in without a deposit because of the girls situation in her old house. Then she explained to me that she made a home visit to the girl's old apartment to see her housekeeping. I really thought that was totally strange. So, she asked me if I wouldn't mind a home visit like she did to the other tenant. I told her I would. She could pass by and look at the outside of the place but I didn't think a home visit was appropriate. She sort of frowned when I said that. Then she said that another young woman might be interested in the apartment and she had asked her where her child's father was. She wanted to know if he was in jail or on probation or was a part of the child's life. She said she asks that of all single moms. The girls answer was that it wasn't her business and she left quickly. April took that as a sign that her boyfriend was a criminal. I couldn't believe all that I was hearing but it was almost like a car wreak where you couldn't look away. I couldn't believe this madness but I didn't walk out yet.
Then she told me about the students in the front house. Apparently, there were 4 of them. All men, all seniors in college who were moving out in July. And she explained to me that this place had low ceilings because it used to be a garage she converted. I sort of thought so when we entered it but wasn't sure.
She then stood up and shook my hand and gave me an application in case I was interested in renting and we walked to the car and left. Josh asked me does everyone ask all those questions. I told him no this was the exception not the rule.
We headed for home and just when we got back to our house the phone rang. It was April. She asked if I was interested in the place. I told her I would have to talk it over with my family and would let her know and so she said well, she had some seniors coming later in the afternoon to look at it. I can just imagine what she is going to ask them. I was guessing that one of the questions would be if they had grandkids and how often do they visit.
After I told my mom about the meeting with Miss April she couldn't stop shaking her head and laughing. I then called April and told her thanks but no thanks. She sounded surprised and then said well, maybe the seniors would take it. I wished her luck and a Merry Christmas.
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