Chapter 99: A Pivot Right

After Jeff the rookie cop and his wife left, I began to think maybe I had been a little hasty with Swamp Thing. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to collect rent on empty apartments, even if there was some risk involved.

Then again maybe the little old ladies were the way to go. They sure wouldn't be having wild parties or fights with their boy friends at all hours. There would also be something positive about them being snoopy. The enclosed and locked court yard would be easy to manage for seniors as well. They would probably provide their own lounge chairs.

With that in mind, I dressed for the cold so that I could ride the Gunny's bike to the senior center to put a note on the Bulletin board. I took my morning shower then began to dress for the ride. I first worked my way into a bra and panties. Then I pulled on the long thermal suit made for a teenage boy. After the thermal suit it was heavy weight jeans, yes they come in different weights now, and a thick wool shirt. The shirt was Air Force Blue, because it had been part of a uniform I wore many years before. I had saved it like a few other things, just because I liked the way it looked on my oddly shaped body. Dressed with all the clothes, I was beginning to lose any shape I had. That in and of itself might not have been a completely bad thing.

I struggled into a sweat shirt and then a slightly thermal lined nylon parka with hood. I also wore a ski hood and scarf. Finally the bike helmet went on top of the parka hood. In the well insulated outfit I was forced to waddle to the bike. It had been stored inside, so even though it was below forty degrees, the bike's motor started right up. I was pleasantly surprised.

The bike actually performed quite well. I was surprised how much different the world seemed at 15 to 20 miles per hour. As I rode through town I saw store owners opening up. I even nodded, waved, and shouted a greeting to the one or two I recognized. It was a different view of the town for me. I have to admit there was something somehow more intimate about the experience of riding to breakfast.

I pulled the bike into the parking lot of the local McDonald's. The town was too small for more than one, but it was a nice large one. I knew none of the people in the dining room there. They all seemed to know each other, at least on sight, but not me. I was the odd chick out. I didn't mind. I was a little sorry that all the months that I had been home, I had eaten a biscuit at my desk almost every morning.

I tried their coffee and biscuit and found them wanting. I had stopped at the restaurant only because it was near the senior community center, so all was not lost. I got to watch a reasonably young father and his two kids having breakfast. He looked as though he was in a routine with them, so I figured he was the stay at home dad. Not only that everyone in the place knew the kids and spoke to them. Obviously he and the kids were regulars there. Several of the older folks also seemed to be even more well known than others. It seemed that there was a whole subculture thing going on in that restaurant. Most likely there were similar groups in other restaurants as well.

Once I finished my coffee I emptied the tray in the trash then recovered my helmet from the seat beside me. I got all my hoods in place before an older gentleman asked, "Is that your bike in the parking lot with the motor on it?"

"Yes Sir, it is my bike," I replied.

"Do you ride it much in this weather?" he asked.

"Not so far this year, but I'm starting to ride it more today. I am going to see how it goes. It's really a very different experience from driving a car."

"I can imagine a cold one," he said.

"Anything that isn't covered does get cold I admit. At least that has been my experience so far." I replied turning toward the door.

I noticed that lots of people smiled at me as I passed. When I got to the parking lot, I started the bike and was happy that it didn't embarrass me by not starting. I climbed on board pedaled a few times and then dropped the motor. The bike took right off, I was quite pleased. The four blocks to the senior center passed quickly. Once there I had to wait ten minutes in the parking lot before the doors opened at nine.

The slightly chubby lady who opened the doors was wearing a beautiful smile. She obviously enjoyed her job. It had been a long time since I could say that. Two seniors and I entered the the center together. It was warm inside and the others seemed to enjoy that. I hoped that it wasn't because they were living with insufficient heat. I had heard stories and hoped that they were not true around my town at least.

"Hello," I said to the lady who had opened the door, after I followed her to her desk. "I was wondering is there was a bulletin board where I might post an announcement of apartments for rent?"

"We have a bulletin board and I do not censer it, so sure you can post anything you like as long as it is legal." She smiled.

"I'm pretty sure they are legal." I said with a smile of my own. Do you have a pen and paper I could buy or borrow?" I asked.

"Sure," she said pushing a cheap ballpoint pen and a pink post it note pad to me. It was at least the large post its. I wrote a quick note about the apartment, listing its features and plugging the security features. I was finished and out of the senior center by 9:30AM.

At ten I placed a call to Amy the firefighter who wanted to know the details of the apartment. When I told her that the place would rent for four fifty with a surcharge for the heat in winter she said, "Thanks, I'll get back with you tomorrow. I am at work now and can't do anything anyway."