During my freshman year in college, I lived in a dormitory. Dorm life was not for me. So during the spring semester, I searched for an affordable apartment for next fall. I used all of the usual sources - bulletin boards, classified ads, flyers, friends, rumors, etc. I found a card on a bulletin board that listed what I was looking for - a furnished, one bedroom basement apartment with an outside entrance, private bath, kitchen and even an off-street parking space.
I took the card off the bulletin board, returned to my dorm room, and called the telephone number on the card. A woman answered. I told her my name and asked if their apartment was still available for rent beginning next fall semester. It was. I made an appointment to view the apartment.
It was a nice looking house and it wasn't far from the campus. I went up the walk to the front door and pushed the door bell button. The door was answered by a man in his mid-thirties. "Hello, I'm Rich. I have an appointment to look at your apartment that's for rent."
"Come in. I'm Frank West." I stepped through the door. He turned and called, "Kathy, we have a visitor." Kathy was drying her hands as she entered the room. "This is my wife, Kathy."
"Hello, Mrs. West. I'm Rich."
"Hello. Call me Kathy."
"And call me Frank. We're pretty informal around here."
With introductions out of the way, we went to look at the apartment. It was what I was looking for. Clean, well lighted, and not cramped. I noticed there was also a set of inside stairs. I told Kathy and Frank that I liked the apartment and I asked what the monthly rent was. It was more than I could afford. I told them that. I noticed that both of them had been looking me over closely while we looked at the apartment. I didn't think much about that, because I'd want to look closely at someone whom I would be renting to and who would be living in my home.
Frank said, "Maybe we can work out some sort of arrangement. Kathy and I would like you to rent the apartment." I asked what sort of arrangements he had in mind. Frank said his job kept him pretty busy and he never had enough time to really do all the yard work and other things around the house. It was quickly agreed that I would help with the yard work - mow the lawn, rake leaves, shovel the walks - and do other chores for part of the rent. I gave them the damage deposit and the first and last month's rent to close the deal. I would move in the middle of next August.
Frank asked if I would like something to drink. I accepted and we went outside to the patio. Frank asked if a beer was o.k. I replied that a soft drink would be fine. We sat down and began to chat. I told them a little about myself. We all seemed to quickly get comfortable with each other. Frank was about six feet tall with a slim build, like a runner. Kathy was in her early thirties. She was about five foot two or three. I'm also about six feet tall. I work out a bit with weights. I turned nineteen the previous January. I thanked them for their hospitality and I told them that I was looking forward to returning to school now that I had rented their apartment.
The summer break flew by. I had a good job, but I was eager to move into my apartment and get back to the books. The day I moved in, Frank and Kathy were washing windows. I told them I would help them as soon as I got my car unloaded. I carried the boxes of my stuff downstairs. I could unpack later.
When I went back outside, Kathy was up on a ladder washing the top of a picture window. She was wearing cutoff jeans and a t-shirt. As she reached up to wash the glass, her t-shirt was stretched tight by what appeared to be a nicely developed chest. "Here, let me do that. I've got a longer reach." Kathy said thanks and came down the ladder. She asked for a towel and wiped her neck and face. Frank came over and massaged her shoulders. "You're all sweaty."
"Yeah, it's pretty hot up there when you are standing under the eaves. A shower will feel good tonight."
It took the rest of the afternoon to finish washing the windows. As Frank and I were putting the ladder, hoses, and other tools away, Kathy asked if I would like to have dinner with them. They were going have a salad and sandwiches. I quickly accepted since I still had to unpack my stuff and I didn't want to go out to eat. We ate dinner and made small talk. I excused myself and went downstairs and started unpacking. While I was putting things away, I heard the shower upstairs turn on. Later, I realized I had heard the shower just once. They must have showered together.
