It doesn't take long to get to my house on the west side of town. School let out over an hour ago. Rush hour doesn't start for a little while yet. The roads are fairly clear. Sam is trying to be quiet, but he doesn't quite stifle a yawn. I keep the radio off so we can talk, but Sam no longer feels like it.
"Now, you might find the house a little strange. I bought it just after college. I had an unexpected windfall, so I just got it. The previous owners went through a nasty divorce, and the wife got sole custody. She and her lawyer boyfriend made some major changes. Unfortunately, they ran the husband dry, and he didn't have enough left over to pay off the mortgage. The bank foreclosed with only a few months left to pay it off. I swooped in, and the rest is history." I relate to Sam. He isn't really listening.
"It's just a street or two over from where I was living my last year at school. Just close enough to commute, but far enough away not to get caught in any rowdy mobs. I sublet out rooms during the year, but the last tenants left at spring break. So, we'll be the only ones there." I leave out the part where the the two students were arrested on drug charges in Daytona.
Sam almost perks up when we finally pull into the short driveway. The house is a faux Victorian with a more contemporary addition on the left side and back. The drive leads up to what used to be a garage, but is now part of a home gym/office combo that totally destroys the charm of the original three-story structure. We walk up to the front door on the right side of the building.
"What is going on with this place?" Sam whispers as we walk into the front hall.
"The design is somewhat off-putting. It would look better if the last owner stuck to the original plans, but they messed everything up." I respond.
The front door opens onto a small hall with a small closet then goes to the right of the stairs. There's a small parlor directly to the right, with a door to the laundry and utility rooms at the end of the hall. The stairs lead to the second floor landing with a common living area with a kitchenette, two bedrooms, and a shared bathroom. A second staircase leads to a small landing and the door to the partially finished attic. I keep the door locked when there are tenants.
I unlock the sliding door that blocks out my living quarters from the rest of the house. "Watch out for the step. The living room is sunken." Sam all but trips anyway.
"Kind of big, isn't it. Bigger than you could need, anyway." Sam finally responds as he drops his bags on the sofa.
"It wasn't the case. At least I have plenty of storage. The hall to the left of the dining room lead to the bedroom and master bath, if you need to clean up a little." I hint at Sam so he can take his things in. Unfortunately, he fell asleep almost immediately after he sat down.
I take his clothes into the bedroom, clearing a few things up as I go along. Everything is pretty much already neat. Nothing much needs to be hid. My dirty clothes are in the hamper. The breakfast dishes were already cleaned. The few things a fourteen year shouldn't be seeing are already put away. I don't have much of that type of thing, but I did have to move a few things down to the basement. (The only door is in the pantry beside the kitchen, next to the always locked door to the laundry room only side. I can't be too careful with boarders about, after all.)
Most of my comics and game supplements are safely locked up I the cabinets in the office and dining room. Yes, I am using a china cabinet to house books. It's stupid, I know, but I don't rally have anything else that could fit in there. What can I say, I'm a single guy. What do I need with extra dishes.
There's one last thing to clear up--my computer. It sits on a desk to the side of the dining room table. It was the best place for it. I double check the history, clearing the few things I don't think Sam should see. I also change the password. Can't let him get into trouble, not this soon after meeting him.
One last thing to do. I have to place the call. I pull out my phone. I should have done this hours ago, when I first found out, but I didn't want Sam to hear what I have to say. I could wait until this evening, but then I might chicken out. The call goes through on the third ring.
"Hello. What are you calling about?" the voice on the other end asks.
"Hi, mom."
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