Jesse Williams felt butterflies in his stomach as Seth, a local realtor, pulled up with him to 452 Anderson Street. He had heard a lot of great things about this house and the area. It was an upscale neighborhood, and Jesse wasn't used to spending a lot of time in a community like this. The two men got out of the car and headed towards the house.
Jesse recently had been named a tenured professor at a local university. Before, he had been living in an apartment, not sure if he would have to relocate if he no longer worked at his job. But, with a full-time position, he knew it was time to settle down and plant his roots in a community.
When they entered the house, the living room was on the right. Everything was in great condition. Nothing was sagging or creaking. There were two sofas facing a large screen TV. Jesse, however, didn't just see the room. He could hear the pattering of feet as they ran across the floor. These were the footsteps of his children. He could see it now: a son and a daughter. They were chasing after each other. Perhaps the boy had taken something from the girl and she was trying to get it back. Maybe they would watch their favorite cartoons together here. Jesse smiled when he thought of this. He liked the challenge of raising children. It wasn't something that he thought would daunt him like it did other people.
Seth took Jesse outside to view the backyard. There was a swimming pool. He could see his son and daughter, now both in high school having their friends over for pool parties. He saw outside barbecues on holidays and weekends in the summer. Would he still be close to them, or would they be more interested in their friends at this point? He wasn't sure.
After that, Seth took Jesse upstairs to see his bedroom. He was older now. His son and daughter were at the university. They had moved out. He and his wife would spend a long time in this room discussing their lives. What were they going to talk about? Maybe how much longer he planned to stay at the university. Maybe they would talk about what their children were doing. Maybe they would talk about retirement. Thinking about growing old gave him a sinking feeling, but this is what entered his mind.
Seth took Jesse downstairs and outside into the front yard. As they stood in front of the house, Seth looked at Jesse and asked him what he thought about the house. Jesse smiled. "It's perfect," he told him.
Jesse recently had been named a tenured professor at a local university. Before, he had been living in an apartment, not sure if he would have to relocate if he no longer worked at his job. But, with a full-time position, he knew it was time to settle down and plant his roots in a community.
When they entered the house, the living room was on the right. Everything was in great condition. Nothing was sagging or creaking. There were two sofas facing a large screen TV. Jesse, however, didn't just see the room. He could hear the pattering of feet as they ran across the floor. These were the footsteps of his children. He could see it now: a son and a daughter. They were chasing after each other. Perhaps the boy had taken something from the girl and she was trying to get it back. Maybe they would watch their favorite cartoons together here. Jesse smiled when he thought of this. He liked the challenge of raising children. It wasn't something that he thought would daunt him like it did other people.
Seth took Jesse outside to view the backyard. There was a swimming pool. He could see his son and daughter, now both in high school having their friends over for pool parties. He saw outside barbecues on holidays and weekends in the summer. Would he still be close to them, or would they be more interested in their friends at this point? He wasn't sure.
After that, Seth took Jesse upstairs to see his bedroom. He was older now. His son and daughter were at the university. They had moved out. He and his wife would spend a long time in this room discussing their lives. What were they going to talk about? Maybe how much longer he planned to stay at the university. Maybe they would talk about what their children were doing. Maybe they would talk about retirement. Thinking about growing old gave him a sinking feeling, but this is what entered his mind.
Seth took Jesse downstairs and outside into the front yard. As they stood in front of the house, Seth looked at Jesse and asked him what he thought about the house. Jesse smiled. "It's perfect," he told him.
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