Garland, TX … Summer 2017
The afternoon was hot and sticky. There was no breeze and no sign of rain in sight.
As a taxi passed by a bank, the time on the blinking Time and Temperature sign read: two: thirty-five pm & the temperature on it read: one- hundred-and-seven degrees.
Short time later, the taxi pulled into the parking lot of the Roselle Apartments on Broadway Boulevard and parked in front of the sidewalk that led into the stairwell.
Larisa Van Buren who had been riding in the taxi’s backseat paid the taxi driver, got out of the taxi and closed the car door.
The taxi driver also emerged from the car and walked to the trunk. He opened the trunk, retrieved Larisa’s suitcases from out of it and set them on the ground.
“Thanks,” Larisa smiled.
“You’re welcome,” the driver answered.
Larisa pulled up the suitcase handles and headed for the stair entrance.
There, Larisa slowly mounted the stairs onto the first landing, stopped for a bit and then mounted the stairs onto the second floor hallway.
Larisa walked down the hallway to the apartment she had just rented.
She soon arrived at her apartment, unlocked the front door and entered her apartment.
Larisa pulled her suitcases into the living room, closed the front door and locked it.
Although the apartment was empty, at least it was hers. Hers for the next year or so. Larisa could not help but smile for she did not have to worry about that hot headed and jealous sister of hers – Stacy Van Buren interfering with her life.
Larisa walked over to the air conditioner/heater and turned on the air.
As the apartment cooled off, she returned to the suitcases, took hold of the suitcase handles, pulled the suitcases into the bedroom and laid them down flat on the carpeted floor in front of a wall.
Just then there was a knock on the front door.
Larisa went back into the living room to the front door and opened it.
Mr. Charles Ferguson, the manager, stood outside the doorway with a large envelope in his hand.
“Hi, Mr. Ferguson.” Larisa smiled.
“Hi, Miss Van Buren.” Charles smiled back. “I see you made it back alright.”
“Yes I did.” Larisa confirmed. “Is that envelope for me?”
“Yes it is. Copies of your rent payment, deposit payment, application and pet fee payments, and a copy of your lease.” Charles replied. “My printer finally decided to work.”
“Thanks.” Larisa said, taking the envelope. “Would you like to come in?”
“No thanks.” Charles answered. “My wife’s waiting for me.”
“Oh okay.” Larisa said. “Thanks for the papers.”
“You’re welcome.” Charles smiled. “Welcome home.”
“Thanks.” Larisa smiled back.
Charles left Larisa’s apartment.
Larisa closed and locked the front door. She returned to the bedroom, dropped the envelope onto the carpeted floor and sat down on the carpeted floor in front of one of her two suitcases.
She opened the envelope and removed its contents. Larisa checked everything over. To her satisfaction everything was there. Her signed and dated copy of her lease along with the receipts of her rent, deposit, application and pet fee payments. Larisa put everything back into the envelope and closed the envelope.
Judy Kaye 2 