Timothy - 2. Chapter 2

I had to call Mom and Dad and give them my new address. Walking to my car, Mrs. Kenner called me back. “ Timothy, you can park in the garage. It’s empty, and you can pay for it by mowing the grass.” I thought that was a deal and agreed to do it.

I phoned Mom and Dad and told them my new address. They wanted to know why I moved out of the dorm, so I told them. Dad thought I had made a good decision and offered to pay for my rental. He said it would be less than dorm fees at the school.

I moved all of my belonging from the car into my apartment. I now needed bed linen and towels. I asked Mrs. Kenner where I could buy these items. She said she would show me. Now I had a passenger, and I had a feeling I would be driving Mrs. Kenner often. She appeared to be a nice old lady, and as a southern gentleman, I didn’t mind.

She showed me the way to a shopping mall. “I shop here. That store has bed linen. Remember that the bed is queen size, and you’ll need two pillows as well, while you do that. I’ll do some shopping.”

Walking into the store, I told the clerk what I needed.

“Is this for a dorm?”

“No, I’m renting a room in one of those big houses.”

“Oh, you are renting in Mrs. Kenner’s home?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“We get a lot of her renters here. Follow me, and I think I know what you will need.”

And I did. “These are the sheets you will need, and I would recommend these two blankets. I have two kinds of pillows. I’ll show you. This pillow is filled with feathers, and this pillow is filled with cotton. The cotton is cheaper, but a lot of people like the feather pillows.”

I felt each pillow and settled for the feather pillows.

“Do you need towels, washcloths, and kitchen towels?”

“Yes, I’ll need bath towels and washcloths.”

I followed him, “These are a good grade bath towel. I sell a lot of them.”

“How about those?”

“They are more expensive, but you don’t need them. The cost of one of those will buy two of these. Unless you have a lot of money, I’d recommend these.”

So I bought a dozen towels. Looking at the washcloths, I bought six of them. “You should buy one of these.”

“What is that?”

“It’s a bath sponge, and a lot of people like to shower with them. Try one.”

So I bought one. Walking to the register to pay, he picked up a bundle of kitchen towels. “You’ll need these a well.”

I paid for everything with my credit card. Now I needed to go shopping for soap to wash clothes. As I was leaving the store, I met Mrs. Kenner coming back with her shopping.

“How did you do, Timothy?”

“I think I have everything I’ll need. I need to go grocery shopping for washing machine soap and some orange juice.”

“Are you planning on taking your meals at the university?”

“I was. Why?”

“It will be cheaper for you to eat your breakfast and dinner in your apartment. You can prepare your food to your preference.”

I thought about that, except for dry cereal, breakfasts at the cafeteria were general lukewarm at best. I shudder when I think of cold eggs. Lunch was okay, the soup was hot, and sandwiches were okay. I hardly ate anything in the cafeteria for dinner.

“Okay, Mrs. Kenner, you convinced me. Where is the grocery store?”

We drove to a grocery store near her home, well near my apartment. Taking a cart, I bought orange juice, Mrs. Kenner walked along with me. If I heard, “You’ll need this,” and she would put something into my cart.

Before Mom and Dad arrived, I was settled. During the week, I drove to school, had lunch in the cafeteria, breakfast, and dinner in my apartment.