The first time I met Mr. Steinberg, I was totally impressed with the way he carried himself. He looked pretty old to me, maybe in his 70's, maybe even older, but I could tell from the way he dressed and spoke and especially with his young physique, that he exuded confidence and self assurance. I don't think he was a body builder by any means, but dressed in casual attire, he stood straight and proud and when he moved around, his agility belied his age, however old he really was.
Impeccably dressed in slacks and a pressed shirt, some stylish shined shoes, he impressed me as a man that took pride in himself and tried to put out the best image he could. While his face was weathered a bit, showing his age, he had a very full head of white hair perfectly styled. His smile was engaging, friendly and sincere, each smile with an almost personal touch to everyone he graced with it. Maybe only 5' 8"s tall, which I'm sure was pretty close to accurate, as when we shook hands, I measured him up to my 5' 6" frame. Still he was actually a pretty imposing figure even with his lack of height and age.
I had an appointment for an interview with him, to see if I could rent one of his apartment units that was adjacent to my campus, very convenient for me if I could get it. As soon as I arrived, I was in love with the complex. It had 15 units that he rented out to college students only. Actually there were originally 18 units, but he had converted two, that were side by side, into one single large unit that he lived in, so he was on the premises full time. Also his nephew stayed in one unit and he did all the maintenance on the units from a/c repair to plumbing to landscaping, everything. The complex had four small separate brick buildings forming a square, which housed a very attractive swimming pool and yard area that looked luxurious to me. All the shrubs were neatly pruned, the gardens were weed free, there were 2 gas grills in the grass near the pool area and a dozen colorful beach chair recliners to lounge in. This was the fourth place I had looked at and by far the nicest one I had seen yet.
This looked like heaven to me, more than I had hoped for when I read the ad. The best part was, there were 5 total hotties, in bikinis and various beach attire, obviously student tenants, laying out at the pool sun tanning when I arrived. Every one of these girls were drop dead gorgeous and totally fine ass. I was sold the second I saw them regardless of what the inside of the units actually looked like.
Locating his apartment, the first thing I noticed was the mezuzah on the door frame. I knew immediately what it was as one of my best friends was Jewish and they had one on the doorpost of their house. Mr. Steinberg opened the door immediately when I knocked and invited me into his apartment for my interview as a potential renter. His place was awesome, decorated like a house in one those home décor magazines, it looked like it was done by a professional interior designer. Immaculately clean and organized, I also noticed a large wooden Star of David hanging on the wall that looked like it was a million years old, but in a good way, a very nice piece to decorate his wall. During my interview, glancing around from where we sat and talked, I noticed one room had been outfitted as a home gym. He had an expensive treadmill, an elaborate pully weight machine and a very large assortment of free weights.
My budget was tight, as my father had left my mother when I was 6 years old, and she struggled to make ends meet. Don't get me wrong, we never missed any meals, I didn't dress in rags and we didn't live in the ghetto, but Mom didn't have money to waste and the money she got at the plant, well lets just say she watched it closely. I was going to be given a budget of $1,200 a month from mom, which I was grateful for, she was a good mom. While the rent here was advertised as $800 a month, a little higher than the other places I had looked at, I knew it wouldn't leave much left over for me if I was accepted.
I had a part time job lined up in the school game room, just 18 hours a week, but that would help some, I mean, I did want some type of social life and maybe a pizza here and there. All my meals were covered in my tuition in the school cafeteria, breakfast, lunch and dinner, even on weekends, but it closed at 8PM, so I had to have eaten dinner by then or buy my own if I missed it.
We had a pleasant 15 minutes interview and then Mr. Steinberg gave me a tour of the last remaining apartment. It was fully furnished, very nicely appointed and looked spotless. I wanted to live here so bad, but Mr. Steinberg told me that he had a potential renter already lined up and my only shot was if it fell through. So, I shook his hand, which he had an amazingly strong grip for a man his age and he told me he would call me one way or the other and let me know later this week, as school was starting in about 10 days. I drove my two hour trip back home, with my fingers crossed and told my mother about it that night. She seemed really happy that I liked the place, a little concerned about the higher rent price, but wished me good luck.
Sunday, a week later, I got the feeling that I wasn't getting the place and resigned to the fact that I would have to call one of the other apartment complexes Monday morning and take a unit there. I had run out of time and needed to lock something in. Later that night, thank God, Mr. Steinberg called me and told me the unit was available if I still wanted it. I was elated, and told him I would bring the check and deposit tomorrow and move in immediately.
The next morning, I woke with a purpose, excited but a little nervous. I packed, called my mom at work and told her I will see her in two weeks, then got on the road. She cautioned me for the 100th time to be careful with my money, as she couldn't afford anymore. This was gonna be my first time away from home and I was excited about my parental freedom and independence.
Mr. Steinberg greeted me at his door with a strong friendly handshake. I had caught him in the middle of a workout and it was obvious to me that he took his workouts seriously. All sweaty and worked up, he was wearing those old NBA style short shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt, drenched in sweat. This old man was in really good shape. Still diminutive in height, he was pretty well built, in fact, extremely well built if you considered his age, which again I would have said 75 years old. He gave me the key to my apartment and told me to let myself in and he would check on me in a few hours.
As I walked to my unit, I couldn't help but notice 7-8 girls partying around the pool. They were playing music, drinking beers and grilling hot dogs on the gas grill. They paid me no attention til they saw me unlock my unit and walk in, then moments later while I was looking around, there was a knock on my door and a girl's voice saying "hello...hello".
First off. Let me tell you a little about myself. I think I mentioned earlier that I was 5'6"s tall, but still hoping for a growth spurt. I had straight raven black hair, I wore it a little long, kind of a raggedy styled cut, but I never fussed over my hair much. I was thin, about 145 pounds on a good day and at 18, I had still not developed a trace of facial hair. My body was as smooth as the day I was born and I often fantasized of the day I would grow some hair on my face and chest.
I'm not making this up or gloating when I say I was attractive. I really was. I don't mean the kind of attractive that is only mentioned when your mother and grandmother tell you that you are handsome. I had lots of "girlfriends" in high school that would comment on my eyes, nose, lips and cheek bones. More than once I heard comments from them that they would die for my nose, or that they loved my modelesque cheek bones or "oh my god, your blue eyes are so gorgeous." Even though, they remained "girlfriends" as when I asked them on a date, they always said, "Donnie, we're friends, I don't want to ruin our friendship dating you." I was still a virgin and had never even been to first base.
