In recent week's I've read how the economy is getting better, how jobs are becoming more plentiful and how overall things are turning around.
Sometimes what you read in the newspaper or see on television just doesn't ring true closer to home.
Having been out of college two years, my psychology degree hasn't been put to good use, unless good use is being able to analyze that a large woman can't fit into a size 8 dress without bulging out all over. To say nothing about that excess weight bursting fabric at the seams. But such is the life of a 24-year-old woman who needs to support herself.
School was so much fun. The classes weren't all that bad, the guys were constantly around looking to get into our panties, and whether getting on stage for a dramatic scene in a play or on display before thousands Saturday night at the stadium as a cheerleader there were ovations.
Graduation brought forth the reality of a cruel, real world. Oh there were still dates, but working two jobs to pay the rent, insurance and necessities didn't leave much time for casual fun.
My name is Kimberly, and I'm the subject of this little story. Sitting here at my computer, typing away about what has happened over the last 14 months, is a way to get things off my chest and tell others to beware.
If something is too good to be true, it probably isn't. And that one must look for the motivations of others when making decisions for yourself.
Geez, I guess I am putting that psychology degree to work.
After college I moved to a nameless city, wanting to live downtown where the action was. Plans for a good job, friends and all kinds of excitement were denied when scores of resumes didn't attract attention.
Having to scale down expenses, I moved into a studio apartment that was, well, tiny but livable. I began working at a department store by day and a coffee shop in the evening to make ends meet. Generally it was six days a week of leg-hurting work, and at least I could pay the bills and not ask the folks for a handout.
But when the economy went further into the tank the department store cut hours, and although I wasn't making much there it really, really hurt the pocketbook.
It began a sequence of robbing savings, and then robbing Peter to pay Paul. I'd pay the rent and then be forced to skimp on food or frayed clothing replacement. When the car insurance came due, I was late on my rent payment which totally pissed off the property manager, Mr. Albert, and the owner, Mr. Orvis. The latter was my landlord and had this way of inappropriately leering at me. The guy must have been used to women in burkas in his homeland or something, because he always looked at me with a strange set of eyes.
"You must pay the rent on time," he's say when I finally scraped up the money to get back to even. "You must!"
He was harmless, and actually a nice man deep down, or so I thought. But more on that story later. In the meantime I'd do my best to stay financially afloat by working, doing surveys and other work online, and generally living frugally. I'd date, but generally wasn't looking for a guy as anything other than a (paying) dinner companion.
I kept sending out resumes with no better results, and began thinking I was the biggest dummy in the world. I even gave thought to abandoning the city and heading home in embarrassment.
For weeks Mr. Orvis could be seen arguing with his property manager, Johnny Albert. The two never saw eye to eye, and the arguments came to a boil when Albert vanished suddenly. Somebody saw him packing his belongings late at night and leaving, saying he couldn't take the abusive boss any more.
That was sad, because I didn't want any more interaction with Mr. Orvis that I had to. He was just spooky. Oh, harmless, but spooky nonetheless.
Over the next few weeks Mr. Orvis interviewed a number of candidates, and he didn't like a single one. I dropped off my rent, two weeks late, and he scolded me but spent more time lamenting about his lack of help.
We talked for a bit, me being the big listener that I am, and the light went on in my head. While I knew nothing about property management, I was organized and I did get along well with people. And when you think about it, a PM needs to make sure things are working okay, contact people when they aren't, handle basic problems and make sure the rents are paid on time. How hard could that be?
Mr. Orvis said it was a whole lot harder than that, but he was getting desperate. I really believe the short skirt I happened to be wearing helped seal the deal, as I caught him stealing glances at the lily white thighs I had on display when my skirt ran up my legs, sometimes showing above my stocking tops by accident.
I always knew Mr. Orvis has a little lust in his heart when a pretty girl went by. I saw him staring longingly at several ladies, and rumor had it that Mrs. Easton in 4C had him over from time to time to fix this or that. These visits generally occurred when her husband was on a business trip, but what did I know? Mr. Orvis had never made any untoward or inappropriate moves on me.
He told me not to quit my part-time job, but that he's try me out for a couple months as his assistant property manager. He'd give me half off my rent and a small salary. My immediate assignment, collect several late rent payments and successfully get under lease the three available units of his 16 unit location.
Do that and he'd consider hiring me on full-time at a higher salary with free rent. Gone would be the part-time job and the financial headaches. I was jazzed and knew I could make it happen.
Of course, the glass always is greener on the other side. Getting people (like me!) to pay on time was a chore. And renting the vacant units was difficult. The economy was tough, the units were the worst in the house, and Mr. Orvis didn't allow me to discount the price. "Give it to one, and you have 15 others that want the same discount."
He was insistent on that.
Still, I got all but one of the rents up to date and did rent one of the vacancies in the first month, so I felt a sense of accomplishment even though Mr. Orvis told me I was walking on thin ice and not doing all the job that he wanted.