How I Live Now - 7. Day 7 / Day 8

Day 7.

There are some rough neighborhoods around here. It's nothing like from back home, but that's what a lady said on the metro. I'm still not sure what she meant by it. Everything looked stereotypical as far as the white middle-class folks go. The neighborhood had all these neat picket fences and lush trimmed bushes, topped with basketball hoops hanging above the garages, and some golden lab barking from the rear yard.

Alright, I'll admit that the bicycle thing hasn't taken off the way I intended for it. Just, it's been raining off and on… mostly on, all day long, and I didn't fancy being miserable and looking like a sewer rat.
I can't quite explain it, but the rain is quite warm, almost like a mist, you know, like a garden sprinkler in summer. I still kind of love lawn sprinklers. As a kid, I'd never stop running into people's front drives and getting wet.
My neighbors back home, while sipping on their morning coffee, probably said, "the weird sprinkler kid is in our yard again."

So, you can imagine what I did most of the day when it wasn't pouring down. I lingered around the metro stations. Plus, I found the shortest route to my new job, so I'll walk it and see how long it takes me on Monday.

I spent most of the day scouring local apartment websites, and I've called up many of the places to ask about renting a small crash pad for myself. I spent a lot of quarters at that payphone outside the library, maybe a little more than I wished.

Though most of the folks I called hung up rudely, saying it was impossible. One sweet lady ready struck a chord with me, but unfortunately, she said I was too young to legally sign a contract to have my own apartment. She kept badgering me about my parents and how they'd have to sign off on it. So, does this mean I can't live on my own? I'm going to need a place to live, but it was like nobody wanted to help me today. I'm not like a weird party kid who would trash the place. I have respect for other people's property, but this is ridick…
I don't wish to stay here any longer than I need to, and I'm going to admit that I have no clue what else to do. How do I go about getting somewhere to stay that doesn't cost an arm or a leg?

I'm going to turn in for the evening; there's nothing else to do. Plus, I'm a little afraid to leave my stuff alone for longer than necessary.

Talk soon,
Kyle

Day 8.

I was woken early this morning by a guy leaving the room, who also shared the small space here at the hostel. The dude could have given New York City a run for its money with all the hammering, car tooting horns, and screaming school children. After the interruption, I couldn't manage to fall back to sleep, so I got up and dressed.

Across the street is a nice diner, so I got some pancakes with syrup, and it was heaven. I found ads in a newspaper sitting on the restaurant table, and I figured it might have a better chance. I exchanged $20 for quarters before leaving the diner and found a payphone. You know, I wasn't sure they still existed, but you'd be surprised to find phone booths.

The odd thing bugging me all day is on my first attempt, I got through to this guy, and he said sure. I arranged a viewing for tomorrow, but he said I could swing by today, so I did. Now, I'm not going to say that every old guy is creepy. Well, Doug, as he called himself, must have been about 40-years-old, but from the moment I stepped in the door, I knew I wouldn't be staying.

I didn't know how to say I wasn't interested, and I didn't have the heart to offend him. So, I did the equivalent of the sweep browse. You know; that's when you enter a store, and you immediately know that there is nothing you are interested in. Yet, to be civil, you pretend to be interested, do a quick walk of the floor, and back out the door.

From what I gathered, he was single, lived alone with his two cats, he wasn't very clean, and the place hadn't been updated since the 90s at least. Everything about the place made me feel off, but he was so nice.
I ended up leaving feeling more depressed than I did when I went inside. So, you could say that my hunt in the real estate world hasn't been kind. I'm also not proud to say that the big wad of cash I had at the start of the week is nearly nonexistent now. I have about $200 left, plus some, but I burned through it quickly.

I really hope this job thing goes well because I need it to happen.
I'm beginning to worry about money, and it's weird, you know, as I've never in my life ever been so scared of spending money. I've also been thinking of cutting morning meals to stretch my dough out longer, but I do love food. So, that will only last for so long.

Talk soon,
Kyle