The Furniture of the Poor

By Bill Shortell

I live in a beautiful apartment in a big building with 36 units. It’s in my price range and I have no plans to move, although it’s going downhill.

The landlord has made superficial improvements and uses that as an excuse to jack the rents up to “market rate,” i.e. more than most can afford.

Many people move in without much hope of keeping up with the rent. Upstairs there was a young couple, pretty quiet, except Friday nights. It didn’t bother me. But then her brother moved in with two small kids that ran up and down constantly.

I try to get to know all my neighbors and keep on good terms. I loved the little kids. They were so open and friendly. I didn’t say anything about the noise, but one day, gently I suggested maybe the kids would like to go outside to run around.

Their father looked down at his feet and said, “We just moved up from Florida, and they don’t have jackets.”

Then the rent went up $350 and even with the little extra that the brother was chipping in, they couldn’t pay. After a couple of months one night, they got out in a hurry, leaving most of their stuff in the apartment.

The landlord’s men pitched all their furniture in the dumpster and began their renovation. More month’s passed and finally someone else moved in. A shy young mom with a baby. I said hello and peeked in the door. She didn’t have any furniture…