Inheritance

Chapter Fifty-one. Settling In.

Chapter Fifty-one 

Settling In. 

Later, at an informal reception, John discovered that most of the other students were science majors from liberal arts colleges, and had studied far less chemistry than he had covered in his honours program. This made him feel a little more secure. With the exception of John, they were all Americans, mostly graduates of Universities in the Southern States. Most were mature married students returning to academia after disenchanting experiences in the business world. Of the incoming class of thirty-two students only eight were single, three female, but not one of them could hold a candle to Rachel. 

During the course of this reception, John made the acquaintance of Tom Wells, a blonde, splayfooted second year student from Arkansas. He was quite friendly and offered to show John the campus and to help him find an apartment close by. 

After leaving the party, they toured the immaculately maintained Mediterranean styled buildings of the campus on foot. Tom showed him the student union and cafeteria, the sports complex, the library and the various halls of residence reserved for undergraduates. John couldn't help but compare these sparkling surroundings with the dilapidated grime covered buildings he had left behind.  

"What is that huge monstrosity?" he asked Tom, pointing off to his left as they exited the Student Union. 

"Oh, that's the football stadium." 

"It's massive. What's its capacity?" 

"About seventy thousand, I think." 

"But the University only has about three thousand students!" 

"I know. It seems crazy but they usually fill it for the big games." 

"Can we look inside?" 

"Sure but it's a long walk from here. Tell you what, we'll take my car and after we'll try to find you an apartment." 

Tom's car, parked behind the chemistry department was a cherry red, chrome bedecked, four door Chevy sedan. John had never seen such a behemoth and couldn't believe the odometer reading- two hundred and sixteen thousand miles.  

"How old is this thing?" He asked. 

"About twelve years old. I think it's a fifty-one model." 

"It must be heavy on petrol." 

Tom laughed. "You mean gas, don't you?" 

"I suppose I do." 

"Yeah. It's a bit of a gas-guzzler but at twenty-one cents a gallon it works out just fine. It's easy to maintain, spare parts are dirt cheap and it's great for scooting around town. Could do with an air conditioner though." 

"You can get cars with air conditioners?" John asked incredulously. 

"Sure. Nothing else sells here now." 

"How much did you pay for this beauty?" 

"Three hundred bucks."  

"Is that all? We're getting three hundred and twenty five dollars a month for working as teaching assistants." 

"You're catching on Limey. Welcome to the world of the automobile." 

Tom turned the ignition. The engine coughed, spluttered momentarily, and then roared to life. It had the sound of a three hundred dollar clunker, but it still provided a remarkably smooth ride. 

The tour of the stadium would have to wait - it was locked tight as a drum. The search for lodgings proved successful though. On Montrose Avenue, within easy walking distance of the Campus and essential amenities they found what John considered ideal accommodation - a ground floor apartment in a small complex. A metal studded oak door, located under an arch led directly into a tastefully furnished living room. In addition, there was a large bedroom with bathroom ensuite, an archaic kitchen with a dining alcove overlooking a verdant garden, two air conditioners, and a rent of one hundred and twenty-five dollars a month. John didn't hesitate. There and then he signed a one year lease. 

Tom kindly offered to take him back to his hotel to pick up his belongings. After check out, they drove to a grocery store where John bought a week's supply of groceries for sixteen dollars. Tom dropped him off with his suitcase and the groceries and then took off, heading home to Little Rock to spend the week before the start of the Fall Semester with his family. He wished John good luck with his qualifying exams, and said he would call in on his return to see that all was well.  

Left to his own devices John carried the groceries through to the kitchen. For the first time in his life he had access to an electric stove and a refrigerator. When the perishables were safely in the fridge, he decided to store his root vegetables in a floor level cupboard next to the stove. On opening the door of the cupboard, he thought he saw a black shape scuttle across the shelf. He knelt down and peered into the dark recess. Nothing. It must have been his imagination. Unperturbed he inserted the potatoes, carrots and turnip and closed the door. Next it was the canned goods. These he decided to place in cupboards situated above the fridge and stove, just above eye level. He reached and opened one. He stopped. It was not his imagination. Those were several sets of probing antennae waving over the edge of the upper shelf. As silently as possible he brought in a chair, clambered up and looked inside. He almost retched. The cupboard contained a clutch of cockroaches - not ordinary cockroaches but a Texas sized variety. 

Infuriated, John rushed to the office where he had just signed his lease and confronted Mrs. Greene, the lady who administered the complex. She clearly had heard it all before.  

"Welcome to Texas, son. Everyone has roaches. They come with the property. You can break your lease if you wish, but you'll find it's the same everywhere. It's just unfortunate you moved in just before the next fumigation." 

"Fumigation? What is that?" 

"Four times a year we spray all round the foundations with insecticide in an attempt to keep them out. The next spray is in a week's time. I'll ask them to pay particular attention to your kitchen. OK, son?" 

"And what do I do in the meantime?" 

"Just ignore them. If you're worried sleep with the lights on. They won't bother you then." 

Spray or no spray, from that time on John never slept in the dark as long as he lived in Texas.