Winter dragged its feet but finally spring arrived. The sun began to shine longer and the temperature swung wildly from day to day. It was just a typical southern spring. It was also nice and wet. Our version of the spring monsoon pounded us for days at a time. Still it was a good time of the year, if one didn't mind staying in the house. I chose to work one day a week and just be drenched the whole day.

"Good morning Mr. Abba,"Michael said as he headed for his car.

"Good morning Michael. How is your job going." He had been my tenant and neighbor for about two and a half months. He had been employed by a local law office for about the same length of time. Fortunately he was not employed by the Seymore group. My private life pretty much stayed private.

"It's just fine. I didn't realize how much I would miss being outside though. I always thought I would love being inside out of the wind and rain. Now I seem to miss it more and more each day."

"Ah I can only imagine how much that must weigh on a young man. I never worked in an office a full day at a time. I was always in and out. Now I only work part time."

"I know you have the ideal job, I think." he smiled as he spoke.

"Well, I'll let you go. I'm off to serve some divorce papers then make a photograph."

The day went along just as planned. As a matter of fact my life was going along pretty much the same one day to the next. My life as a cop had been a lot like that except the boring days were punctuated by moments of sheer terror. So far there had been damn few of those punctuation marks.

Mary and I were, as my mother would have said, keeping company pretty much every weekend. It wasn't a great passion, just a comfortable relationship. It has less to do with sex than with someone being there in the morning.

Fortunately for me Mary had come to realize that I wasn't the one. I expected her to find the one any moment. When she did find the one, I hoped that I could wish her well and move on. Of course there was no way to determine that until it happened.

Dog was developing his own personality. He was big old playful brute by summer. Michael had replaced Molly and Misty as he weekday playmate. Mary was still his special lady on the weekends. I was just the guy who bought his food. That is until someone appeared to be the least bit threatening. When that happened, dog was all growls and gnashing of teeth. Dog was very territorial. I liked that about him.

My first festival was in the spring. Mother's day weekend to be exact. I wasn't sure that what I did would be a good Mother's day gift, but I gave it a shot nonetheless. I set up in one of those sideways in the park art shows. The organizer couldn't decide whether to put me in the craft section of a show or in the arts section. When I arrived I found myself in the crafts section. Since I had no better idea than the promoter where I fit in, I wasn't upset.

Even though the show was in Williamsport just a few miles from home, I left the display up over night. I covered it with clear plastic and died it down. I looked inside my metal money box on the way out of my display. I had sold twenty two dollars worth of note and post cards. The posters drew people in but didn't sell. The small three dollar card assortments did best. Followed by the one dollar post card assortment. Actually they were the only two selling items I carried.

Since I planned for the first year to be a learning experience, I wasn't all that disappointed. I spent the night at Mary's house. She had insisted that Dog spend the weekend with her. I have no idea what they did, but both seemed happy to see me.

"I can take Dog home now, if you like," I suggested. "Or first thing in the morning." Since the show didn't start till noon there would be plenty of time. either way."

"Dog can stay with me tomorrow till you are finished. I think I will give him a bath and take him shopping for some toys. He needs toys here."

"What did he chew?" I asked smiling.

"Nothing of any real value, but like you, I need something to redirect his energy."

"Oh and what do you use to redirect my energy?"

"My body of course," she laughed.

When the show finally ended I picked up Dog and home we went. Once we arrived he and I spent some quality time on the rear deck. Michael came over to visit with Dog before bedtime.

"Mr. Abba, I'm planning a cookout next weekend. Will that be a problem?"

"Not for me. I think I will be home but I never know for sure."

"Just thought I would let you know."

"It is always a good idea to keep folks informed of things that might effect their lives."

Mary had gone back into the unit to check the window sizes or some such thing. "Mr. Abba, I want to be honest from the beginning, so that we don't have an issue later down the line." he paused then took a deep breath before he continued. "I am Gay. I hope that won't be a problem."

"It will only be a problem, if you or one of your friends forgets that I'm not." I smiled my fatherly smile at him.

"That sounds fair to me."

Michael moved in while I was out serving papers. Since the place was half assed furnished all he did was bring his clothes, books, and computer. I found him sitting on the deck reading a book when I got home.

"So Michael you all moved in?"

"Yes sir," he replied.

"Good if you need anything let me know."

"I did want to ask, there is a small electric heater in the bathroom?"

"That must belong to the last tenant. Use it till they come asking for it." I suggested.

"Thank you."

"Isn't it a little cold to be reading on the deck?" I asked.

"Not at all, as I said before I was raised on a farm. It got really cold there."

"Okay, well I'm going to get Dog and fix dinner. See you later I'm sure."

"John?" The voice coming through the cell phone belonged to Mary.

"Yes Mary, what's up?"

"Just called to see if Michael is all moved in."

"He is and all is well. By the way don't worry he told me he was gay. I'm okay with it."

"Good, do you and dog want to come for dinner Saturday night. You know I have a nice doggie bed now, he can stay over. I guess you could as well."

"And which one of us has to sleep in the doggie bed?"

"Dog of course, I haven't gotten that kinky yet." She laughed.

"Damn shame but I'll be over for dinner Saturday about six okay?"

"Perfect," she said just as she hung up the phone.

I expected Macon to call and I wasn't disappointed. "What the hell happened?"

"Eddie listen to me, don't every try to send my your poison again."

"Did she show her ass again?"

"No, she kept her clothes on, but she is a real pain in the ass. I have too many things going on to deal with her childish antics."

"Well I guess I'm going to have to put here in a dorm."

"Or maybe the juvenile detention center."

Eddie had his problems and I had mine. Mine would end with a simple rental contract, his would take several years. I had finished my walk before Eddie called, so breakfast was the next order of business. An Egg and cheese sandwich made on a bagel was my choice. The egg and cheese got cooked in a saucer in the microwave, and the bagel toasted in the toaster oven. It was an easy to make and easy to cleanup after meal.

After breakfast I worked on a couple of shots I made the days before. I had been making my 'image of the day' at historical sites in town. Places I could reach on my Ebike were my choices so far. I even had a retail location for their sale. Since it was historical, the museum had agree to put them in their gift shop on consignment. The historical landscapes and the reenactments were allowed in the museum. The local senior center did the same. I doubted that I would ever sell a card at either location but it was a start.

I had made a few dollars from posters. A couple of Misty and Molly's friends had their images made into posters. Usually they resulted in orders for five or six posters each to pass on to friends and family I supposed. The bigger advantage was that I got more and different samples from each of them.

Mary solved my tenant problem for me a couple of days later. She found a young paralegal who needed a place to live while he did her internship. Since the apartment was so small, I had come to understand that temporary people would probably be the best I could do. Families were pretty much out of the question. So it would likely be a constant search for new tenants.


Mary just showed up after the Macon fiasco with the young man in tow. Since Mary found the tenant, it was a man naturally. Michael was just 20 years old, and fresh out of the paralegal course at the local community college. Yes it was the same school Molly and Misty had attended. I probably should have asked the school to just send me their kids and cut out all the middle men. Of course they wouldn't since they didn't offer residential aid there.

He was a good looking kid about twenty five pounds or so over weight and god awful young. He was absolutely the kid next door type. He had good manners, when I complimented him on them, he informed me that he was raised on a farm by his grandparents. His dad had died in the military, and his mom just fell apart. It was more than I needed or wanted to know, but it did explain his seemly open and honest manner.

Since he was fresh out of school, I agreed to make the rent 600 a month for six months but no security deposit. After six months it would drop to the five hundred I quoted Macon. I did tell him that I controlled the thermostat and he might need a small electric heater for really cold evenings.

He assured me that it wouldn't be a problem. Mary took me aside while he looked the place over. "I'll cover any damage he does. Dad and I have kind of taken him under our wing. We know his situation and are helping him get started. You won't lose anything John."

"Don't worry, unless he is prone to rages, I can handle it."

"Michael there is one more who had to approve of you." I led him out to Dog's kennel. I opened the gate to judge Michael's reaction. He was very comfortable with Dog. Dog however was a little shy, since he was partial to women. Dog did come around though when Michael began to rough house with him. "Well that settles it, when do you want to move in?"

"I have my things all packed up at home. I can move in today if that's okay?"

"It's just fine with me. I need to spend some time out working this afternoon, so I'll give you the key, if you write me a check for five hundred dollars. I won't even wait for the check to clear. If Mary says your check is good, then it is good."

"It will be good, I promise. I had a part time job in school and saved for my move to town."

"Well this isn't exactly New York or even Williamsport, but it is a town I guess."

Shelly Macon showed up at my door unannounced. "You John Abba?" she asked.

"Depends on who you are."

"I'm Shelly Macon. Dad said you would be expecting me."

"Well as usual he was wrong. I was expecting you to call for an appointment."

"Well if I had your number, I would call now."

"And I would tell you to stop by tomorrow. I'm busy now."

"Well I'm already here," she said in what seemed to me to be a rather irritated voice.

"You know what, I think we are not going to be a good match. Sorry you wasted your time. You really should have called first."

"You are not going to rent to me because I didn't call first?"

"No, I'm not going to rent to you because I'm not your daddy and I don't have to take that kind of attitude bullshit. So next time you want to do business with a grownup, remember we aren't your family. Try to act like you have some maturity, even if it is an act."

"Hey you can't do this," she said angrily.

"oh I most definitely can do this. Now get off my stoop."

I turned, then walked into the house. I closed the door in her face. "Brat," I whispered.

That was just before I heard her say, "Prick."

On Monday morning I drifted back into my routine/rut. I walked, I delivered papers,I kept the computer on almost all the time. Even in the cold I rode my bike at least a mile or two.

The time until Christmas passed slowly. It was my first Christmas 'Off Line', job wise that is. I got invited to three Christmas parties by Mary. I told her to pick one and I would go.

"Then I want you to come to my dad's party. I know he would like to wish you a merry Christmas."

"It's the one I would have chosen. I think I would rather spend time with him and your friends than the bar association's Christmas dinner."


Molly and Misty wanted to have a party as well, so I said. "Sure. same rules as before. Keep it inside and the noise down to a roar."

I planned to exchange gifts with the three women in my life on Christmas day. Dog was in line for a new chew toy from me. Molly and Misty had a sweater for him. I just knew he would never wear It no matter how cool they thought it was. Mary bought him a fancy new dog bed. The bed would stay at her house she informed me. So it was more her present to herself, I suppose. It was obvious that Mary intended to have Dog whenever I was out of town. Yet another thread in her tapestry.

"So you do own a tie," Mary commented when I showed up at her door the Saturday night before Christmas which was also the night of the Christmas party.

"Three actually, they are left overs from my shameful cop days."

"It's good that you have the right attitude going into a crowd of drunken lawyers. They will probably want to challenge you to a duel."

"Egg nog cups at thirty paces no doubt."

"No doubt," she agreed.

"How about we leave before they get too drunk?"

"If we do that, what are we going to do for the rest of the evening?"

"You choose, anything to get away from a bunch of drunken lawyers," I replied.

"Boy are you going to regret that." I doubted it, but I did try to look worried.

We left the party at before midnight with Mary slightly drunk but not mean or loud. What alcohol did was made her adventurous. For about three hours she kept me as busy as a porno star. It was interesting, but also tiring. I decided that, exotic sex was over rated.

Mary fell asleep about three AM and I slipped out quietly. Dog had been in his new present from me. chain link kennel. when I left for the party. He would be happy to be in the house, I knew. It was possible that he barked most of the time I was gone. It was also probable that if he did, the girls took him into their house.

When I finally made it home, I opened my door to find that Dog had been brought in by someone. I let him out on his front cable to empty his bladder. Afterward we crawled into bed. "Did the girls let you into the house?" Since he didn't answer, I assumed that they had. I would probably find something Dog had chewed, which he shouldn't have, in the morning.

Molly came to see me on new years day. "My Abba, I wanted to let you know that Misty and I will be moving at the end of the month. I am working now and I found a bigger place. I really am going to miss you." She was almost in tears.

"Well if you need anything just let me know. I can honestly say that I am going to miss you two as well." I wasn't close to tears but I did feel down a little. The two girls had been my models as well as tenants. Of course I hated the thought of looking for new tenants. I was like most guys my age, I just didn't like change.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I put the word out that I was going to looking for a new tenant. Renting half a duplex with the owner living next door would be a hard sell to some people. For others it might be a selling point. Either way it was to be a factor in renting the other half of my home.

I put the word out to the city employees via the city web site. They had an online bulletin board so it was easy to reach all the employees of the city at once. I didn't expect much, but still it was a start. The local newspaper would be my last resort. The kids, as I thought of Molly and Misty, put the word out around the community college as well. I decided to give the word of mouth and my bulletin board post a chance before I did anything else. That being my decision, I promptly forgot about renting the other half of my home.

Dog was in his chew everything stage so I tried to keep valuable out of his reach. I spanked him for getting too close to the power cords and valuables, otherwise I just redirected him to his chew toys. I had dogs before, so I knew that it was inevitable that he ruin a certain amount of my clothing and furniture.

I put him in his kennel at least once a day for an hour or so. I never removed him when he whined or barked excessively. I would wait till he was tired barking or whining, then bring him into the house. He spent every night in the house with me. As the dog man had predicted Dog became my best friend.

Dog got left behind, when I served papers. I had absolutely no intention of ever leaving him in the car even for a few minutes. Half the time when I got home Misty or Molly had Dog in their house. I didn't mind but I doubted that it would have mattered a lot even if I did.

The girls started to move on the last weekend in January. It was a sad time for us all but they did need more room. Misty would be graduating from the community college in the spring and starting to job hunt soon after. She might or might not work close enough for them to continue their friendship, but that was something I just didn't care about. I had enjoyed having them as tenants, but over the years I had learned when they go, they are gone. So I turned my attention to finding a new tenant.

I had done all that I could do except begin public advertising. I was very reluctant to go public. I decided to give the feelers I put out until at least the middle of February before I went public. In the meantime I attended every function of the local museum. They sponsored historic days in their thee house village. The buildings were old enough to be used either as colonial or civil war era backdrops for displays.

The museum went from a couple of times a month displays in the summer to one ever two months in the winter. Usually they were about holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas. There was only one display in March and it was cold as the devil. It was one of those Colonial things. I got there early enough to shoot pictures of them setting up with my 35mm camera. I switched to the big camera for the portraits of the actors.

I spent most of my spare time the next week working on the images. Turning one into a poster and the others into note cards, and post cards. I did learn something from the Christmas show at the Armory, I made only two tear sheets of each. One of them I cut up for product and one went into my master catalogue.

I was in the middle of cloning out some modern day background from the museum show, when I got the call,. "John this is Edward Macon from the Carthage Police Crime lab."

I placed him immediately. "Eddie, that sounds real good, except I know you are the crime lab. What the hell can I do for you."

"You are just as personable as always, ain't changed a bit."

"Why would I change, this works fine for me."

"I was calling about your apartment for rent."

"Sorry Eddie, it's part of my duplex and I don't rent to cops."

"It ain't for me. It's for my daughter."

"Why does she need a place?" If she was too old to live at home, she was old enough to find her own place. If daddy was footing the bill, I wanted no part of it.

"She is driving me nuts. She is working part time and going to the community college. She needs to get a place of her own."

"So she pisses you off?"

"Yeah, but I'm not ready to give up on her completely. I want to know she is safe. I figure you are not going to let too much crap go one next door to you."

"You got that right. But Eddie, you know those guys who killed Charlie may come here."

"They ain't never gonna get bail. I did check."

"True but they claim they are connected. When it gets closer to the trial somebody might want to keep them quiet enough to come for me."

"Abba, believe it or not, you ain't the only one who can read odds. I figure she is as safe with you as she would be with some drug dealer living next door." He paused and I tried to think of some excuse not to rent to his daughter. "So how much?"

"Five hundred and it includes water and heat, but I have to meet her and she has to sign a six month lease."

"How about I sign it?" he asked.

"Absolutely not, I will not rent to a cop. The place is in her name and she pays the rent or forget it."

"Alright John, I will have her call you after school and set up a time to meet. The place is available immediately isn't it."

"She can move in as soon as her check for a grand clears."
#############################################

On Monday morning I drifted back into my routine/rut. I walked, I delivered papers,I kept the computer on almost all the time. Even in the cold I rode my bike at least a mile or two.

The time until Christmas passed slowly. It was my first Christmas 'Off Line', job wise that is. I got invited to three Christmas parties by Mary. I told her to pick one and I would go.

"Then I want you to come to my dad's party. I know he would like to wish you a merry Christmas."

"It's the one I would have chosen. I think I would rather spend time with him and your friends than the bar association's Christmas dinner."


Molly and Misty wanted to have a party as well, so I said. "Sure. same rules as before. Keep it inside and the noise down to a roar."

I planned to exchange gifts with the three women in my life on Christmas day. Dog was in line for a new chew toy from me. Molly and Misty had a sweater for him. I just knew he would never wear It no matter how cool they thought it was. Mary bought him a fancy new dog bed. The bed would stay at her house she informed me. So it was more her present to herself, I suppose. It was obvious that Mary intended to have Dog whenever I was out of town. Yet another thread in her tapestry.

"So you do own a tie," Mary commented when I showed up at her door the Saturday night before Christmas which was also the night of the Christmas party.

"Three actually, they are left overs from my shameful cop days."

"It's good that you have the right attitude going into a crowd of drunken lawyers. They will probably want to challenge you to a duel."

"Egg nog cups at thirty paces no doubt."

"No doubt," she agreed.

"How about we leave before they get too drunk?"

"If we do that, what are we going to do for the rest of the evening?"

"You choose, anything to get away from a bunch of drunken lawyers," I replied.

"Boy are you going to regret that." I doubted it, but I did try to look worried.

We left the party at before midnight with Mary slightly drunk but not mean or loud. What alcohol did was made her adventurous. For about three hours she kept me as busy as a porno star. It was interesting, but also tiring. I decided that, exotic sex was over rated.

Mary fell asleep about three AM and I slipped out quietly. Dog had been in his new present from me. chain link kennel. when I left for the party. He would be happy to be in the house, I knew. It was possible that he barked most of the time I was gone. It was also probable that if he did, the girls took him into their house.

When I finally made it home, I opened my door to find that Dog had been brought in by someone. I let him out on his front cable to empty his bladder. Afterward we crawled into bed. "Did the girls let you into the house?" Since he didn't answer, I assumed that they had. I would probably find something Dog had chewed, which he shouldn't have, in the morning.

Molly came to see me on new years day. "My Abba, I wanted to let you know that Misty and I will be moving at the end of the month. I am working now and I found a bigger place. I really am going to miss you." She was almost in tears.

"Well if you need anything just let me know. I can honestly say that I am going to miss you two as well." I wasn't close to tears but I did feel down a little. The two girls had been my models as well as tenants. Of course I hated the thought of looking for new tenants. I was like most guys my age, I just didn't like change.

I have to be honest here, sex with a woman on medicare is a little different. I learned that there are things that require planning. I think that is why she decided in advance what the outcome would be. Sex with the dancer was quite workman like to be honest.

Now that said, let me add that it was a very good experience over all. The dancer had grace both in and out of bed. She wasn't demanding nor was she docile. All in all, the tiny dancer was an experience I was happy to have had. Before anyone gets the idea that it was charity or my part, let me assure you that she took pity on me.

Sunday morning, After I arrived at the campground, I moved the trailer to the marina parking lot, so that the campground could rent my space. It was not likely that anyone would be checking in on a Sunday, it was just my way of being one of the good guys.

The Sunday show started at noon and ran till five PM. I did a little business, but very little. I did talk to a lot of people about photography and how it was used during the civil war era. I was certainly no authority one it, but I had done a lot of reading on the net about the history of it in self defense. People always asked me photographs were sold and who brought them whenever I showed any picture of the re enactments.

The afternoon ended without anything remarkable happening. It also ended without the dancer showing up at the table to say goodbye. It looked as though the dancer had used me and discarded me. I found that thought amusing.

The drive home wasn't eventful at all. I stopped for gas at a truck stop on the highway. I rightly guessed that it would have an easy access gasoline pump and food of some kind. The snack bar was about one stop above prepackaged microwave able trash, but the hamburger came from a grill not a microwave.

I picked up Dog on the way home. He might have loved Mary but he went bananas when I showed up. It was a good thing that neither Mary nor I were in the mood to play pinch and tickle. Dog would have had none of it. He didn't leave my side as Mary and I drank a cup of coffee before I drove home. Mary kissed me goodbye. Her kiss had absolutely no passion. For Mary it was normal. Don't get me wrong Mary was a loving woman, but also very reserved. She was actually a lot like the tiny dancer. Okay she was less forward with strangers but not with me.

Mary could be quite demanding when the mood struck her. What puts women in that mood is a mystery to men. We think we know but we don't have a clue. Hell I doubt that they do either. I actually doubt that there is any one thing universal to all women or that works every time. I expect it's one of those 'If it's the second Tuesday in May, blow in my ear,' kind of things.

Dog and I got home before midnight but not a lot before midnight. My mailbox had a two day accumulation of junk. Offers of unwanted credit cards, and one bill. It looked as though I hadn't missed a thing. I wasn't up to analyzing the lessons learned from the show, so I unhooked the trailer and fell into bed.