The Roommate

Change comes when you least expect it. When it comes, it comes full force, and then your life is altered before you realize what has happened.

Change comes when you least expect it. When it comes, it comes full force, and then your life is altered before you realize what has happened. About a year ago, I was being evicted from my apartment and was in fear of losing my job. I could no longer afford where I was living and needed to move fast. I did what most people do; I began searching through the news paper and online ads. It seemed that everyone wanted more than I made at my low income job and I had begun to lose hope. After 2 weeks of online ad searching, I found something that sounded promising.

"Room for rent in 2 bed apartment, $400 a month and no deposit. Low rent for exchange of household chores and services. I am a 35 year old business woman and I need someone to look after my place and myself. Female preferred but not specified. Room available ASAP. Call for appointment. "

I figured that a few chores would be worth paying that amount of rent, and I needed to move within a week or I would be homeless. I immediately called and ended up leaving a voicemail message. I didn't hear back for a few days and I began to get scared and desperate. Just as I thought I would be living out of my car, the woman from the ad called me and I scheduled a time to come by and see the place the same day. She requested that I buzz at the front gate and ask permission to enter when I arrive. I figured her for an old fashioned gal.
The map directions from the internet said that it was a few miles away. I decided on a nice button up shirt, slacks and brushed my long hair into a pony tail and headed out the door. After driving in traffic for an hour, I arrived at a nice looking apartment building and parked in the street. I buzzed the apartment number and waited for her response.

"Yes, who is it?"

"It's Daniel, I phoned about renting the apartment. May I please come in?"

"Yes you may, please come up. I'll see you in a second."

The door buzzed, and I went into the courtyard and then to the elevator to her apartment. I knocked on the door, and when she opened it I nearly fainted. She was dressed in tight blue jeans and a tight black low neck baby doll t-shirt that showed off her massive breasts. She had long black hair that was placed in a bun on the back of her head. I began to speak and stuttered a little.

"H-H-Hello Vicki, I-I-I'm Daniel."

She giggled a little. "Well hello Daniel, very nice to meet you, would you like to come in?"

"Y-Y-Yes please." I shook her well manicured hand, and then entered and she shut and locked the door behind me.
"You seemed to be very well mannered Daniel, I like that. I was raised in the south and respect those that know how to treat a lady. If you were to stay here, I would prefer you were respectful and well mannered. Is that a problem?"

Seeing as I didn't have many other housing options, I knew I had to play this the right way. I figured I would try to treat her as she wished and try to quote a western I had seen to maybe make her laugh.

"Yes ma'am that would be fine with me."

"Oh, I like that answer. Makes me feel like I'm back home. Let me show you the rest of the house."
She escorted me around the apartment, pointing out my potential room, living room, dining room, kitchen, bathrooms and laundry area. She said that her room is a private place and she would show it to me once I established her trust. She made a joke that if I was female she wouldn't have a problem showing it to me. We then sat down at her table to discuss the living situation. I would be required to do all the chores of the house including the cleaning, vacuuming, laundry, watering of plants, taking out the trash and whatever random tasks she needed. She went on to say how she was away on business a lot and liked her place to shine with or with out her presence. She would be very strict about it sense it would be part of the rent that the house be cleaned. The more responsibilities I took on, the less rent I would have to pay. The conundrum being that if I took on my chores I could not work as much and would have less money to save up and try to find another place, as I figured it would be a temporary home. As I didn't have much time to find another place, I figured I could stay there a few months until I was back on my feet. She applauded me becoming her new roommate and taking on what she called "women's work" to stay there. I told her I didn't mind and I was glad to have found such a nice place. She asked that I sign a contract that stated our agreement on rent and chores. I signed without reading it to get the ball rolling, and with that she welcomed me to my new home. She shook my hand to seal the deal and I left for home to pack and move
On the way home, I could not get her image out of my head. When I got to my apartment, there was an eviction notice on my door which didn't faze me in the lease as I would be out in a day or two to live with a beautiful woman that is 10 years my senior. I decided to just pack what I needed like clothes, personal belongings, CDs and DVDs and my laptop computer as the new place is fully furnished and I wanted to leave as soon as I could. I packed up my car with all I could fit and decided to leave the rest. I awoke the next day for work taking anything else I could think of, and left my old apartment and life forever..
To be continued
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