wouldn’t finish
painting her kitchen until Saturday. He and Tim were going to meet at seven
after the realty office cleared out. He had time to do an assessment of three
or four properties before then.
The afternoon was sunny, with wispy clouds set
high in a vibrant blue sky. He loved driving on the curving roads he knew so
well. He accelerated up a hill and around to the right as he approached a small
strip mall. He pulled in and parked in front of the Thai restaurant at the
north end. In midafternoon, the restaurant was empty and the hostess sat on a
stool by the door, listlessly swinging one foot while talking on a cell phone.
She raised her head and nodded at Sam through the window as he passed by.
Only a handful of cars were in the lot at this
time of day. Tenants consisted of a dry cleaner, a cell phone store, an
optometrist, a beauty supply, and a physical therapy center. The therapist was
the only one that looked busy. While Sam inspected the center’s physical condition,
two cars arrived: parents dropping off school-aged kids getting therapy for
sports injuries. The lot and building were in good shape, and even if business
did not appear to be booming, all of the spaces were leased and open for
business. Sam made notes on a pad of paper.
The next property was larger, with bigger stores.
Two buildings by the main entrance stood empty. One had been home to a movie
rental store, and the other had been a branch office of a major bank. Neither
survived the Recession. It appeared that the theme of this center was discount
goods. It housed a used appliance retailer, a thrift shop benefitting the local
hospital, a clothing consignment store that catered to the young and hip, and
the Forever Friends animal shelter. This center was busy. The clothing store
was packed with high school kids, socializing more than shopping. Groups of
teens were clustered by their cars in the parking lot.
The thrift store was empty, and he recognized the
volunteer behind the counter. Debra attended his church. “I didn’t know you
worked here,” he said as he entered.
“I volunteer three afternoons a week,” she told
him. “I’m good at bargain hunting and thought they could use my help. I usually
work in the back, sorting through the donations and pricing things. I also do
the displays,” she said proudly, sweeping her arm toward the store behind her.
“I’ve arranged things by color. I got the idea from that home-goods store at
the mall. Looks terrific there, and I think it works even better here. Plus our
prices are a fraction of what you pay there,” she said. Before he could reply,
she continued, “We’re short-handed this week, so I’ve been working the
register. It’s been pretty steady all day. Only got quiet a few minutes ago.”
Sam remembered that Debra was a nonstop talker and
realized that this trait might be an advantage now. She launched into a tirade
about the way the kids clogged up the lot after school, probably driving away
customers. When she paused to take a sip of her coffee, Sam asked, “Does your
roof leak? I couldn’t help but notice the stains on the ceiling.”
Debra laughed. “You are a handyman through and
through, aren’t you? Yes, the roof leaks. Has the whole time we’ve been here.
We pay exorbitant rent to some out-of-state landlord that never fixes anything.
You don’t even get to talk to a person when you call. You can only leave a
message. We’ve sent letters with our rent checks, but it does no good.
Personally, I would break our lease and move out, but the hospital board won’t
even consider it. They say that the income is good enough and don’t want to
stir up trouble by breaking the lease. It’s an out-of-state landlord, for
heaven’s sake. What do we care? I don’t see it myself,” she said.
“The appliance store can’t get their repairs made,
either—I talk to those girls. They say the same thing, their management
is afraid to rock the boat. Except at the
painting her kitchen until Saturday. He and Tim were going to meet at seven
after the realty office cleared out. He had time to do an assessment of three
or four properties before then.
The afternoon was sunny, with wispy clouds set
high in a vibrant blue sky. He loved driving on the curving roads he knew so
well. He accelerated up a hill and around to the right as he approached a small
strip mall. He pulled in and parked in front of the Thai restaurant at the
north end. In midafternoon, the restaurant was empty and the hostess sat on a
stool by the door, listlessly swinging one foot while talking on a cell phone.
She raised her head and nodded at Sam through the window as he passed by.
Only a handful of cars were in the lot at this
time of day. Tenants consisted of a dry cleaner, a cell phone store, an
optometrist, a beauty supply, and a physical therapy center. The therapist was
the only one that looked busy. While Sam inspected the center’s physical condition,
two cars arrived: parents dropping off school-aged kids getting therapy for
sports injuries. The lot and building were in good shape, and even if business
did not appear to be booming, all of the spaces were leased and open for
business. Sam made notes on a pad of paper.
The next property was larger, with bigger stores.
Two buildings by the main entrance stood empty. One had been home to a movie
rental store, and the other had been a branch office of a major bank. Neither
survived the Recession. It appeared that the theme of this center was discount
goods. It housed a used appliance retailer, a thrift shop benefitting the local
hospital, a clothing consignment store that catered to the young and hip, and
the Forever Friends animal shelter. This center was busy. The clothing store
was packed with high school kids, socializing more than shopping. Groups of
teens were clustered by their cars in the parking lot.
The thrift store was empty, and he recognized the
volunteer behind the counter. Debra attended his church. “I didn’t know you
worked here,” he said as he entered.
“I volunteer three afternoons a week,” she told
him. “I’m good at bargain hunting and thought they could use my help. I usually
work in the back, sorting through the donations and pricing things. I also do
the displays,” she said proudly, sweeping her arm toward the store behind her.
“I’ve arranged things by color. I got the idea from that home-goods store at
the mall. Looks terrific there, and I think it works even better here. Plus our
prices are a fraction of what you pay there,” she said. Before he could reply,
she continued, “We’re short-handed this week, so I’ve been working the
register. It’s been pretty steady all day. Only got quiet a few minutes ago.”
Sam remembered that Debra was a nonstop talker and
realized that this trait might be an advantage now. She launched into a tirade
about the way the kids clogged up the lot after school, probably driving away
customers. When she paused to take a sip of her coffee, Sam asked, “Does your
roof leak? I couldn’t help but notice the stains on the ceiling.”
Debra laughed. “You are a handyman through and
through, aren’t you? Yes, the roof leaks. Has the whole time we’ve been here.
We pay exorbitant rent to some out-of-state landlord that never fixes anything.
You don’t even get to talk to a person when you call. You can only leave a
message. We’ve sent letters with our rent checks, but it does no good.
Personally, I would break our lease and move out, but the hospital board won’t
even consider it. They say that the income is good enough and don’t want to
stir up trouble by breaking the lease. It’s an out-of-state landlord, for
heaven’s sake. What do we care? I don’t see it myself,” she said.
“The appliance store can’t get their repairs made,
either—I talk to those girls. They say the same thing, their management
is afraid to rock the boat. Except at the
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