I had just purchased some rental property and was inspecting my new project, when I heard a knocking at the door. Outside stood a woman, unknown to me, wearing cutt-off shorts and a denim sleeveless blouse. “My name is Jeri,” she said as I opened the door to motion her inside.
“I have been walking by this house for several weeks, wondering if someone was going to purchase it. I have been eyeing it for some time because I work just a few blocks away and am needing a place to rent for the summer, ” she said hesitantly. I told her I had just purchased it and it needed a little work over before I could start renting it out. “Could I see the inside?” she queried.
Not being in any particular hurry, I agreed to show her inside. It was a small 2 bedroom bungalow,
but structually was sound. It had sat empty for over a year, the previous owner having died and the family had jsut settled the estate. As we went from room to romm, I began to take more notice of her. Through her shorts and blouse I could see the markings of a once refined woman, that was now a little down on her luck. Something in her voice and the way she handled herself told me she was or had been from quality stock, although I didn’t question her. I showed her my plans for painting and touching up the inside as well as the outside. The utilities would be turned on the next day I advised her and she could get a much better look if she wanted to come back and lookI gave her my phone number and she left, saying she would call me in the morning, then left as abruptly as she had arrived.

Saturday morning, the phone rang and I found myself talking to her again and agreeing to meet her for breakfast in about an hour.