The character Dwayne is to some extent autobiographical; however, the story is entirely fictitious. Please enjoy. (:-o)
*****
Dwayne Richards was of average build with pleasant features and mousy hair. He was athletic, but did not participate in any team sport; he was a loner; an introvert.
He was destined to become a nerd, not only because of his genetics and his strict Methodist upbringing, but also because of two main events which occurred early in his life.
When he was in third class primary school, his father encouraged him to learn his "times-tables" until they were indelibly etched into his brain. This ensured that he always did well at arithmetic and later mathematics.
The second influence occurred when he was a first-year junior in high school. At a combined whole-school assembly two weeks before the mid-year exams, the head master suggested, "If you wish to do well in the upcoming examinations, you should spend the next two weeks revising your subjects and making summaries of the key points." Dwayne heeded this advice and was amazed when the exam results placed him fifth in a class of thirty.
Before the final exams that year, Dwayne commenced his revision schedule in earnest six weeks before the actual exams. This left little time for anything other than school, eating, sleeping and studying. His effort was rewarded by being placed second in their class. That was it; he was now definitely locked into a life as a studious nerd. His goal was to become class dux.
However, the more Dwayne learnt, the more he realised he didn't know. This left him unsure of himself; with little social skills, and rather clumsy around girls.
*****
Dwayne never managed to become dux at high school, however his studies did have one benefit; he gained a full scholarship to study forensic science at Jefferson University, Linterna. The scholarship paid his fees and gave him sufficient funds to pay for his accommodation.
During the Christmas break, Dwayne was employed by Macy's in the Cedar Grove shopping complex. This complex was situated in an outer western suburb of Cedar Hill, which was located in the south of the United States, and as such, the weather remained quite pleasant even during the winter months.
Over Christmas he had intended to share a house or unit with a few of his nerdy friends; but before that was organised, he saw a boarding house advertising a room and meals at a cost that was extremely enticing; more so, because of its location within walking distance to Macy's.
The grounds around the boarding house looked tired, as if no one had spent any time looking after them for some years. But the building itself appeared sound and clean. However, the varnished timber cladding had long ago turned grey, giving the house a somewhat ghostly aura. A slightly corroded plaque near the front door had the name "Mount View" embossed on it.
Dwayne knocked.
The knock was answered by a man of about forty. He had a somewhat cheerful disposition, but Dwayne thought that was possibly due to the prospect of having finally found a new tenant.
As soon as the door opened, Dwayne stated his purpose, "Hello; I saw you have a room to let; can I see it, please?"
"Sure. Come in."
To the left of the entrance was a door that opened into the dining room, with the kitchen beyond.
"Breakfast is in here at 8 o'clock each morning, and dinner is at 6:30pm. Is that OK?"
"Yes sir."
"Through here is the lounge room." The owner opened the door to the right and allowed Dwayne to look around briefly. In there he saw a large flat screen TV opposite a comfortable tan lounge suite. Either side the TV was a collection of 8 by 10 photographs.
"Now upstairs are our bedrooms and bathrooms."
Dwayne followed him up the stairs.
"Now my bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, so this bathroom is virtually all yours." He said this as he indicated the door to the main bathroom.
Dwayne saw that there was a large shower cubicle on the far side of the bathroom; and nearer the door, there was a wash basin with a large mirror on the wall behind it. Beyond that was the toilet.
"Would you mind having your main shower in the mornings? You see we have a solar hot water system on the roof; and if you shower in the morning, then the sun heats the water during the day, and there is no need for the backup electric heater to top up the temperature at night."
"That's OK; I'm accustomed to showering in the morning any way."
"Good. And this would be your bedroom." The owner opened the door directly opposite the bathroom.
Dwayne went into the bedroom. He felt the firmness of the double bed, and observed that there was ample storage for his clothes. When he glanced out of the one window, he could see out onto the street and the top of Cedar Hill was just visible over the rooves of the houses opposite.
"Well what do you think? Are you interested?"
"Yes sir. Can I move in next Sunday?"
"Yes... Do you mind paying in advance, say one week?"
"OK." Dwayne pulled out his wallet and collected together the notes required to make the right amount, "Here you are sir."
"Thanks. By the way I'm Mr Whyte; what's your name son?"
"I'm Dwayne Richards."
"Well Dwayne, I'll see you next Sunday then."
*****
On Monday morning, Dwayne was shaving when the reflection of a movement behind him caught his eye.
He turned, and through the steamed-up glass shower door he could just make out a female form.
He was puzzled; he thought, 'Didn't Mr Whyte say the bathroom was for my exclusive use? Perhaps, since then he had let another of the rooms to this girl.'
Dwayne called out, "AH, HELLO... I'm sorry, I didn't think there was anyone else in here."
A soft girl's voice responded, "It's OK."
"Tell you what; I'll go and come back when you're finished."
"No; don't do that."
"Well, what then?"
"Well, I'd like you to help me once you finished shaving."
"Help you? And what do you need me to do?"
Dwayne imagined she wanted him to help her once she had finished her shower and was dressed.
"I'd like to have my back washed. Would you do that for me? Please."
Dwayne was flabbergasted; had he gone to heaven? A girl had just asked him to join her in the shower.
"R, really. Are you sure?"
"Yep."
"Oh. W; w, won't be long."
Dwayne was shaking so much at the thought of it, that it was amazing he didn't cut himself as he finished shaving.
