Kevin stepped off the bus, shivering from the cold as he surveyed the apartment building. It was old, but well kept-up and only three blocks from campus, which was a good thing since he didn't have a car. Juggling his suitcases and laptop case, which was slung over his shoulder, he made his way up the short flight of steps to the front door, using an elbow to press the button labeled 'Manager'. When someone asked over the intercom who he was, he identified himself as Kevin Parker, a new tenant.
A minute or two later, an elderly man appeared in the lobby and opened the door for him. As soon as Kevin was inside, the man handed him a set of keys, explaining one was for the front entrance, one for the apartment, and the last one for the laundry room in the basement. Kevin thanked him before heading to the elevator that would take him up to the third floor.
Getting off a few moments later, Kevin made his way down to the end of the hall. He set one suitcase down so he could open the apartment door, then walked inside, putting the bags down by the door.
My new home, at least for a while. He surveyed the small living room. There was what looked like a fairly new sofa along one wall, with a somewhat battered coffee table in front of it. A table and two chairs took up one corner opposite it, and two doors led to what he knew from having been there before, were the kitchen and the bedroom. There was a decent sized desk against the wall next to the front door. He immediately set his laptop case on it then hauled his suitcases into the bedroom.
Tiny apartment, tiny bed. He smiled in amusement as he looked at the single bed, glad to see that the mattress looked clean. After taking off his jacket, he opened one suitcase, taking out sheets and a thermal blanket, setting them on the bed. The rest of the contents, personal items, towels and washcloths, would end up in the bathroom.
He began unpacking the other suitcase, distributing his clothes between the closet and the dresser.
When that task was completed, he went into the small kitchen. Next item of business, food shopping.
There were a few plates, cups, and glasses in one cupboard, a frying pan that had seen better days, and a saucepan. The manager had told him and his mother when they rented the apartment that the dishes had been left behind by the previous renter and he saw no reason to throw them out. "But feel free to get your own, of course," he'd added.
Kevin had opted for keeping them—and the mismatched set of silverware he found in one of the drawers.
He went back to the living room to get a pad of paper and a pen from his laptop case and began making a shopping list. While he did, he realized it was getting dark in the room and switched on the overhead light.
"Guess I'm eating out tonight," he said aloud. "It's too late to shop, especially since I don't know the neighborhood."
He neatly folded the list, leaving it on the corner of the desk, and went to get his jacket. Then he headed out, hoping there was a cheap place to eat nearby.
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