[five hole]

I think it is always important for me to tell the back story on any and all of my stories... It is always a better story when the information is explained versus just "Dick see Jane. Jane like Dick. Dick and Jane live happily ever after." For all those who may not like this, I ask you to just tell me... no back story, but I'm hoping there won't be anyone who does.

Back in the 90's when I was in college and becoming who I am today, I met a good friend in Dan. Dan and I would become quite the friends and end up deciding short of the beginning of our sophomore year, we would like to move off campus. So we stayed the entire sophomore year saving to move off campus. Near the end of our sophomore and graduation, we decided to find a decent place to live. Our goal of a house was very lofty, but we wanted a decent place versus a crummy apartment that we kept seeing on our friends get. It became immediate clear that if we would get our own place, we would need to need more money or additional help. After Dan suggested many guys we knew (all of which I managed to prove were not good housemates for one reason or another), I suggested Kate (not my wife) and Carrie who were also looking. In hindsight, they were great housemates, attractive, paid on time, and chipped in when they could. Conversely, they couldn't cook anything more than Ramon noodles/Kraft Mac and cheese, gullible and were just slobs when it came to the cleanliness of their rooms. We met up, decided upon what we wanted, and pooled our money. I think we settled upon $1000 ($250.00 each) for a place was as much as we could go. My confidence was high, but we kept trying. The search was not great the first week and then on the second night, we hit a gem.

Not far from school, but nestled in not quite the country and not quite the suburbs was a house I thought was too good to be true. A four bedroom, four bath house with a finished basement, detached garage, and wooden on both sides and huge backyard that a flat 120' by 200' stretch of grass.... Oh and it had a hot tub... well, it didn't work... yet.

The owner a Nancy, maybe 31 when we met her, had three small kids. She was very attractive although her dumbass rich husband had cheated on her and she was given the house the house in the divorce. However, soon after one of her parents passed and she moved home to live in her childhood home with the kids and take care of the other ailing parent. She I guess decided that she didn't want to sell this house too, so she offered it up for rent.

When Carrie, Kate, and I pulled up (Dan was working) we all agreed this place was awesome, but the chances of it becoming a reality were slim. You as the reader already know that we will get this house, but the story of how... is quite good.

When the door opens and Nancy greets us we are even more understanding the chances are slim. Nancy didn't apparently know we were college kids, but showed us around. We asked lots of 'adult questions' although at 20 we were already adults and she asked some even better ones back.

Kate was in a sorority and did share the same sorority that Nancy was in albeit at different schools. I wasn't sure what chance we would have, but it gave me a glimmer of hope. She ut one of her small kids down for a nap and then continued with our tour. We just loved the place and upon finishing told us she wanted first months rent and a security deposit. Then she dropped the bomb of $1200.00 a month.

My mouth probably dropped and I know she saw the look on our faces as our bubble had burst. Someone said, "I'm sorry, I don't think we can afford that" and "thank you for showing your fine home to us."

As we graciously left, we passed a small boy of maybe six on the front walk-way. His bike was beside him and was trying to fix something with the rear training wheel. As Carrie and Kate passed I looked down and just stopped. I squatted down to look and saw it was an easy fix. I put the wheel on fixed it and Trevor (the boy's name) just smiled and said, "WOW, Lookie Mom, he fixed it."

As I stood she said thank you and offered to pay. I said, it was not necessary and then she said, "Can you look at my garage door quick?" I agreed and went to the garage.

I don't recall the whole thing, but the husband had never hooked up the garage door properly and having worked with my Dad on our recently at home, saw the mistake and fixed it. Again Nancy offered to pay me, but it was nothing really. As we exited the garage, I heard these magical words from Nancy: "How much could you pay a month?"

I didn't respond, but Carried or Kate did and whoever it was did us all a favor and said, "800.00". It was $200.00 less than we probably could of, but she thought for a second.

She agreed!!! But there were stipulations of us taking care of the upkeep, snow remove, grass, cleaning, and doing a lot of work one or two days a month. On a make-shift legal agreement, Kate, Carrie, and I signed a lease and a Dan a day later. The house was ours!

We needed to figure out who got what rooms and drew straws, but the master bedroom was the biggest and had a private bathroom. In the end we all agreed upon the master bedroom owner would pay a higher amount. I opted out of this and so did Carrie, but Kate had to have this room and Dan did too. So they figured it out and we all ended up paying a lot less so that Kate could have the master. We found out Kate's parents would foot the bill and were a little disappointed, but the rent was low so who could really complain!

For three years (two in college and one when I finished school) the four of us lived there until I moved out in late 1999. It was filled with lots of good times, a few sad ones, and yet we threw some great parties all while keeping this place looking great.

I told the backstory, and will continue as soon as I can with this place, and video which was shot in Dan's bedroom.
I hope you will enjoy it.