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THE MIDNIGHT SKULKER 14

San Diego, California

February 28, 1974

6:45 p.m.  Pacific Standard Time

The Spanish tiled kitchen with practically new built-ins, though far smaller than the kitchen in Schaumburg, was lovely and perfectly workable for a family of six. The Spanish tiled floor carried through the kitchen to a twelve by seventeen family room that, to the side, had another small bedroom with a three-quarter guest bathroom.

Sitting on the large, overstuffed sofa, “It’s a whole lot smaller than we’re used to, but… The whole thing…” Marsha exclaimed, “This house is breathtaking.”

Sitting alongside his wife, “Sophie, what do they… The Sawyers, what do they want for this place?” 

Taking a chair from the kitchen, placing it before the coffee table, her briefcase at her feet, leaning forward, her elbows on her knees, “There’s a few things I haven’t told you.”

Glancing at her husband, “What haven’t you told us?”

“This morning, when I called Alice to question her about you, I was able to get a lot of information that… Why do you think I was so sure that this,” flicking her wrist in the air, “house was your home?”

Waiting for an answer, when none came: “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve a way of getting under peoples skin…”

“Yeah,” smiling, “we noticed.”

“Yeah,” Marsha said, “but in a nice way.”

“Thank’s… Anyway, when I spoke to Alice I told her about this house, and asked if she thought you kids could qualify for an eighty percent loan and Alice…”

“ ‘Eighty percent loan’?”

“Yes, that means that you’d have to come up with twenty percent as a down payment, and also qualify for the monthly payments. That’s when Alice told me what your home was listed for and that she thought you’d get pretty near, if not exactly what you were asking… Also, that she had you pre-qualified for a home up to one-fifteen at five percent interest. So that’s why I know you’ll qualify for this place.”

Quiet, absorbing what Sophie had told them.

“You like this house?”

“ ‘Like this house’? Mitchie, I love it!... You?”

“Yeah, me, too!”

“Opening her brief case, removing a five part NCR – No Carbon Required – ‘Deposit Receipt’, placing it on the coffee table, “The Sawyers listed their home at one hundred, ten thousand, and we both know it’s really worth much more, so I suggest you go in at full price.”

“ ‘A hundred-ten’? That’s what we got for our place.”

“Really?” Sitting back, “Ten thousand more than your ‘asking’! That’s great, you two!”

“Yeah, it really is great.” Looking at Marsha, So, do we go full price here, baby?”

“Yes… Yes, Sophie, we’ll go full price for this… for 'our home'.” 

“So, that’ll be what?” Mitchell questioned, “About twenty-two grand for the down Payment?”

“Yes, and about another fifteen hundred for escrow and closing costs… Figure about twenty-four thousand to cover everything, and they’ll talk to you about adding monthly pro-rated insurance and property tax when you’re filling out your loan ‘docs’.”

“That’ll leave us about twenty-two thousand.”

“That’s good, Mitchie. It’ll be nice to have some money in the bank for a change.”

“One more question. When can we move in?”

“The Sawyers would love ‘as soon as possible’.”

“Think they’d go for thirty days?”

“That would suit them just fine.”

“Perfect!” Marsha said.

“Okay, then.” Pen in hand, Sophie began writing, ‘Mitchell’… Stopping, she asked, “What’s your middle Initial?”

                                                                       *****

Both having signed in two places, placing the document into her briefcase, “You want to come along when I present it?”

“It’ll be okay if we go along?”

“Well, you’ll wait in the car while I go in, but yes, sure. Then we’ll go for dinner.”

Looking at Marsha, “Okay?” 

Nodding affirmatively, “Think we can meet the Sawyers then, Sophie?”

“Yes, I’m sure they’d love to meet you.”

“Oh, yeah! Alice asked us to send a telegram saying that we’ve accepted the buyers offer. So do you know where there’s a ‘Western Union’ that we can stop off at?”

“I think there’s one near the train depot downtown and it’s, kind of, on the way to La Jolla, so sure.”

“Mind if Mitchie and I take another quick look around?”

“Sure, I’ll wait for you here.”

Becoming dark outside, having an idea where the switch was for the yard and pool, going outside, Sophie turned the lights on.

As they had already stood in, and looked again, and marveled at what in thirty days would become their living and dining rooms, and walked through what would be the rooms of their four children…

Coming into the bedroom, now lit by the exterior lights, both unable to hold back, their arms about each other, their lips tightly pressed upon each other’s…

“Marcie, I love you, and cannot wait until we’re here.”

“Me too, Mitchie, I love you, too! Oh, my, God, this is so beautiful! This is so much more than I ever dreamed.”

Then Marsha and Mitchell stepped outside…

“Oh, God!

 …to a fairyland of tree wound lights, and spotlight-lit trees and shrubbery… and the shimmering, translucent blue pool.  

©October 6, 2011 / Mark M. Lichterman