WAAPPP!!!
The textbook hit the polished granite floor, and the explosion bounced off every smooth plastered wall of the old science building lobby. Startled by the deafening sound, Elise Richardson quickly retrieved the wayward volume and shrank against a wall, just in time to avoid the rush of students pouring into the lobby from finished classes.
Two sophomore women raced by her to the foot of the nearby stairway and seated themselves on the bottom step.
"Did you hear about Danny and Stacy?" asked one woman.
"No," replied the other. "What? What?"
"Well," said the first, "Brenda told me that Marcia caught them making out in the back of the library last night."
"You're kidding," said the second. "Were they doing it?"
"Almost," said the first. "Stacy's shirt was completely unbuttoned, and she had his . . ."
"Excuse me, ladies," said Martin Frieler standing on the third step above them.
The first woman's eyes slowly climbed Martin's tanned and sinewy legs to his tight shorts and bulging T-shirt, and ended by gazing upon his smiling clean-shaven face.
"Hi, Martin," she said with a sudden grin.
The two women turned their legs as if opening a gate for him.
"Thank you," he said, then jogged between them and waded through the stream of students to reach Elise.
"Mmm," said the second woman, ogling Martin's rear-end, "makes you want to just reach out and kiss it."
Elise ducked her head and adjusted her glasses. She hoped no one had noticed her earlier clumsiness, but everyone around her seemed oblivious to the shy 20-year-old with long dark brown hair. Everyone except Martin Frieler, leader of the men's track team. He kissed her forehead and led her to the safety of a nearby corner.
"Later on, I'm going to look at that place over on Cherry," he said. "Want to come with me?"
"No," she said. "I've got some studying to do for tomorrow."
"Well, if I get it," said Martin, "then maybe you'll come by this weekend. Hm?"
"We'll see," said Elise.
She stared deeply into his green eyes and smiled. He felt the warmth of her body next to his and noticed the quivering of her soft lips as they began to part.
"Hey, buddy," said Steve, slapping Martin on the shoulder. "You going to check out that new place today? Hey, Elise."
"Hey," said Elise, pulling away from Martin and ducking her head again. "I've got to go. Call me later?"
"Sure," said Martin.
Elise took his hand as she moved away and held it until it slipped from her grasp.
"Well, me and Mike are going over to the track later," said Steve. "Coach says we need to work on our relays."
"Yeah, he's right," said Martin. "You two need to tighten up on your hand-offs. I'll swing by later, when I get back from seeing this lady."
"You two clowns coming, or what?" said Mike as he hurried pass them with his gym bag slung over his shoulder.
"Martin's going to check out that duplex over on Cherry," said Steve. "I can't believe it. Only 200 a month and furnished, too. Man, that's a real steal."
"Not unless you can pass muster with the owner," said Mike. "I hear she's a real hag, and picky, too. She's already turned down three guys. Must be using a tape-measurer to check dick size or something."
"Hey, that's the one Stan was telling me about," said Steve. "He said that she's actually a witch who believes that by drinking the blood of a virgin male she can keep herself eternally young."
"I thought she needed to drink the cum of a virgin male," said Mike.
"Man, you two have been watching too many horror flicks," said Martin. "I bet she's actually a very nice lady. And anyway, I'm going to offer to do some chores around the place. That usually goes over well with the older ones."
"Yeah, I can see it now. 'Oh, Martin!'" said Mike with a high-pitched voice, "'would you be so kind as to bend over and pick up that dish towel for me? Oh, my, what a nice, round derriere you have, young man.'"
"'And could you just wipe that spot on the floor there, sweety,'" said Steve, imitating Mike, "'while I continue to admire your firm buttocks?'"
Both Steve and Mike broke out in laughter. Martin just shook his head.
"Get going, you two," said Martin. "Coach'll be waiting."
Steve followed Mike through the door, both continuing to laugh and to talk with high-pitched voices like two old ladies.
Taking the sidewalk leading away from campus, Martin pulled from his backpack the newspaper clipping and re-read it:
"FOR RENT: 1 BR DUPLEX APARTMENT IN A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD, FURNISHED. $200/MO. UTILITIES PAID AND MEALS INCLUDED. MALE STUDENT ATHLETE PREFERRED. 555-4665."
It was late in his junior year at Central Louisiana University, and being able to get away from the bustle and congestion of campus life held much appeal for him. He found the house next to a quiet side street overhung with thickly clad oak trees which shaded bright green lawns and flowery mounds of fiery pink azaleas. It was a narrow two-story wood-frame duplex, half of which appeared dark and empty with plain drapes hung in the windows. The stillness of it gave Martin an ominous feeling. The other half, however, had flowery hanging plants over the porch and windows bright and skillfully decorated.
The owner, Mrs. Sybil Sanchez, welcomed Martin into the latter half of the house. Its furnishings combined styles of both gothic and oriental, and carefully arranged on tables and shelves were a number of small crystal obelisks and pyramids reflecting the light of scented candles. A mahogany Buddha statue on the fireplace mantle stared down at Martin, as he seated himself beside Mrs. Sanchez on the edge of the sofa.
She was a small woman in her early 50's who wore her dark curly hair loose and long. Quartz crystals dangled from her ears and an embroidered shawl was draped over her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight, and Martin thought she looked quite young for her age.
"So, Martin," said Mrs. Sanchez, "you're an athlete at the university, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Martin. "I'm on the track team at Central. But may I ask, why did you state in your ad that you preferred a male athlete?"
"My late husband was a coach of the football team," she said. "I remember his players being some of the nicest young men. And I would much prefer renting to someone who is committed to good health and is well mannered. I just hope that you're not the partying type, though."
"Oh, no ma'am," said Martin. "I came to college to get a degree, not a hang-over."
Mrs. Sanchez giggled. Her smile accentuated her high cheek bones.
"Well then, there's just one more thing I need to ask you, Martin," she said. "And that is, do you by chance have a girlfriend?"
She leaned in close to Martin. A serious expression came over her face as her eyes locked with his. He felt her warm hand on his knee and started getting nervous, thinking that maybe Steve and Mike were right about this woman. His hand strayed toward the coffee table and landed on a large book of Japanese artwork.
"Um, uh," he stuttered, glancing at the book. "Yes, ma'am. There is a really nice girl that I'm dating right now, really nice. And smart, too."
"Good," she said, patting his knee and backing away with a smile. "I just wouldn't want someone bringing various young ladies around here at all hours. A steady girlfriend is acceptable, as long as she has her own place to sleep, mind you."
"Oh, yes ma'am," said Martin. "She's a perfect lady, and my parents raised me to be a perfect gentleman."
"Well then," she said. "I think you'll do just fine. The rent's payable at the beginning of each month, and you're welcome to have your meals with me each day. You can move in this evening, if you like. I'll have breakfast ready about 7 in the morning. Oh, and here's the key."
Martin left Mrs. Sanchez' house and went back to the dormitory to pack his things. He met Steve coming off the track field and asked him for the use of his car for the move. Steve hated losing such a good roommate, but he understood Martin's need to establish some independence for himself. He would have done the same, except for the local convenience of his parents' home.