As I signed the lease and handed the agent, Stephanie Peters a check for two grand to cover the security deposit and first months rent I found it hard to believe I'd actually left my wife and agreed to lease apartment number 1215 in Kurtz House for the next year. I had next to nothing to put in this $1,000.00 a month apartment with the exception of a couple suit cases full of clothes, my portable stereo and a laptop. I could have easily found a less expensive place, and been happy, but now that I was unencumbered by the bitch I'd been married to for 15 years I wanted to be close to the night life of center city.
"So Allen, are you going to remodel before you move your furniture in?" Ms. Peters asked.
"Furniture? You're looking at my furniture Steph." I replied.
"Oh really Allen, well I guess it'll be sometime before I get an invitation to your house warming party." She said.
"Could be Steph." I said as I shook her hand and showed her out the door.
I walked across the wide empty living room and slid the patio door open, and stepped out onto the narrow balcony. I was lucky to get a unit on the east side of the building. While my balcony was in the shade from the late afternoon sun, the building across the street was bathed in bright sunshine. I looked over the railing and down the twelve stories to the busy street below. From this height the movement of people on the sidewalk and street took on the appearance of tiny ants moving about. I could only faintly hear the sounds of vehicle horns from my twelfth story perch. Opening the small storage closet at the end of my balcony I discovered a single plastic patio chair, forgotten or abandoned by the prior tenant.
Well at least you'll have someplace to sit tonight. I thought to myself. I expected to enjoy evenings on my tiny patio Steph had told me the breeze way up here was very nice.
I set up my portable stereo on the kitchen counter until I could get some furniture for the living room. It took me only a minute or two to unpack my things and hang them neatly in the bedroom closet. "Well Allen," I said out loud to myself, "now what?"
I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to get acquainted with my new surroundings. Five minutes later I stepped out onto the busy street 12 floors below my sanctuary. The early evening happy hour crowd was busy scurrying to their favorite free buffet and low priced drinks. I took a leisurely stroll around the block my high rise was in, making mental notes of where the pharmacy was, the video rental shop, and a wine and spirits shop was located. After circling my block I did the same for the block across the street from my building.
Like most downtowns in America today, I found a second hand shop that had some very interesting furniture displayed in their window, and a sign that offered free delivery. I was in need of cheap furniture to start since the lawyers had just began fighting over how much of my income the ex would be taking so I entered the store to check out what they had to offer.
As the door swung open it struck a small bell announcing my entry. I stood just inside the door waiting for someone to greet me. Several minutes passed before a very attractive woman in her late forties or early fifties came around the corner from the back room. Her long flowing skirt hid her legs completely with the exception of her shoes which looked to be more for comfort than style. While her skirt hid her legs from view completely her form fitting sweater did little to hide the shape of her bust. She had to be at least a 36 C and her tits appeared to be firm, but that could be a result of her bra. Her shoulder length red hair was cut in kind of a shag style with different lengths and fairly straight. As she came to a stop directly in front of me I noticed she was covered in sexy little freckles telling me her red hair was natural. Her eyes were a pale blue gray, and sparkled in the bright lights of the shop.
"Evening can I help you?" She asked politely.
"Yes, I'm looking for some furniture." I replied.
"Great, what kind of furniture did you have in mind?" She said.
"Cheap!" I said.
She smiled and said, "You're in the wrong store sir, we don't have any cheap furniture here, we only carry less expensive items."
"There's a difference?" I questioned her.
"Most certainly is!" She said, adding, "Furniture made of particle board is cheap and goes in the dumpster out back. All our stock is one hundred percent wood, and of high quality, but less expensive because it is second hand. There may be a few flaws in some pieces, but not an ounce of particle board."
"I see." I replied.
"But when I asked you what kind I really meant what room are you looking to furnish?" She remarked.
"Oh, all of them." I replied with a smile. "I just signed a lease over at Kurtz House for a year and don't have a single piece of furniture for the place yet, unless an old plastic patio chair counts?" I added.
Her smile grew wider when she realized she had a potential whole apartment full of furniture customer on her hands.
"Living room first it can double for a bed room for a while." She suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea." I said, "I put myself in your obviously capable hands." I added with an equally wide smile.
She extended her hand, a delicate looking freckle covered hand, with perfectly manicured nails finished in a sexy French manicure.
"I'm Katherine, but you can call me Kay if you like." She offered.
I took that delicate hand and shook it slowly as I said, "Hi Kay, I'm Allen."
"Is there a misses, Allen?" She asked. "They usually want to be involved with furniture decisions."
"There is a misses but not for much longer." I replied.
"Okay so it's a bachelor pad we're looking to furnish." Kay suggested.
I said, "Yes I suppose it is."
As we approached several displays of living room furniture Kay directed me to an L shaped sectional. It was tan and appeared to be in perfect condition. "This one has recliners built into each end Allen." She said. It comes with two end tables and a matching coffee table. I'll throw in a pair of table lamps and can let you have it for six fifty.
Kay was obviously a keen marketing person and used the living room set as a loss leader. The price tag on the set was $725.00, but she knew a good price on the first buy would have me back for the other rooms I needed to furnish.
I sat down on one end and flipped the recliner bar along side. My body settled into the most comfortable position bringing a quick smile to my face. "You got yourself a deal Kay!" I said.
"Great Allen!" she replied, "Let me grab an order form and we'll write it up."
As Kay walked away from me I watched her move. Her hips swayed very nicely and the skirt couldn't hide the fact that she has a very nice ass. I'd have to find a way to ask her if there was a mister in her life.
I occupied myself looking at kitchen sets while I waited for her to return.
"Okay Allen, lets do the paper work." Kay said as she approached me from her small office.
"Full name?" She asked. "Allen Goodman" I replied.
"Kurtz House apartment number?" Kay asked.
"1215." I answered.
"Phone number?" she asked.