Remembering Raimondo (Complete)

No Identification, No Room

“Excuse me sir,” I began. “I came here yesterday and paid for three months rent for a room 346.”

He removed his eyes from his papers with a suspicious look on his face.

“If it does any good, I have the receipt.” I stuck my hands in my pockets simultaneously but found nothing. Frantically, I checked all my other pockets. That's odd where'd I put them? I quickly glanced at the now confused man in front of me.

“Ma'am, if you have your ID that will do,” he insisted with a deep accent.

“Yeah, ID,” I began to reach in my pocket when I remembered that I took my ID out in the cab but never put it back.

“Shit!”

“Ahhm,” the man cleared his throat.

“Sorry, do you happen to have a phone, I left my ID in the cab...” I started chattering until he shook his head cutting me off. I felt so stupid, scared, and angry at the same time. I began yelling at the now oblivious man.

“Can you call up the lady that I gave the money to yesterday and have her tell you-”

“Sorry … she's not in town,” he interrupted me again. “Look it says here a room 346 for an Aud-”

“Audrie James Hawthorn,” I finished his sentence smiling like I just I cracked the biggest code.

“Yes but I have no proof that you are Ms. Hawthorn. Therefore, you will have to show me ID or any other form of identification, or you will be asked to leave,” he explained with sympathy in his eyes.

“What! No No No! I am not leaving I paid 3 months rent and I am not walking out that door until I get my key!” I shout in his face.

He watched my outburst with a blank expression. “I am sorry but rules are rules, and I understand the position you are in but I have nothing in my hands. Now if you may, please exit because my worker will be coming in soon.” He turned around and placed some folders into filing cabinets.

Ubelievable! What do I look like to him, a criminal! I felt the need to scream hit me in full force. I stood there in shock and disbelief.

He turned to look at me, “what are you still doing here, if I were you I'll head home before it gets dark...” he trailed off mumbling something I couldn't catch. “...no you don't want that.”

“Excuse me sir... wait,” I called after him as he makes his way down a narrow hall. “What do I not want?”

“Young lady, go home!” He shouted with his back to me and his hands flying in the air.

Maybe it'd be best if I left right now. But there was no way I could carry my bag around so I left it in the lobby with the crazy man and exited the building. Outside was getting very cold and my coat didn't quite do its job right. jamming my hands in my pockets, I tightly wrapped my coat around myself.

Somewhere in the distance a piano was being played. letting curiosity have the beast of me, I walked towards the music. The melody being played was sad and heart warming at the same time. As I got closer to the sound, the cab that dropped me off drove by.

Forgetting the beautiful melody instantly, I excitedly waved for him to stop but he didn't see me. I begin chasing the cab. After what seemed like a decade, it stoped right in front of the building of my apartment.

Ha! MY apartment.

The thought of it was funny, I couldn't even get the key to MY apartment.

I ran towards the car and tapped on the drivers window, “Excuse me I left my ID in your...” before I could finish my sentence he roughly opened the door hitting my knew and slamed it shut. “Oww!” I squealed.

He ignored my cry of pain and walked in the building.

“Hey! Cabby man.” I shouted after him.

No reply. He walked up to the counter, signed in, and made his way towards the elevators.

At this moment my anger was palpable! “Stop right there!” I yelled and then whispered, “please.”

He stopped but didn't turn around. Oh shit. Suddenly fear washed over me. He just stood there with his back towards me. Slowly he reached into his pocket.

A gun.

Weapon.

Run!

That was pretty much what I was thinking until he dropped something on the floor and made his way into the elevator and towards the third floor.

Noticing that my ID was what he dropped I went to retrieve it.

Jerk! What the hell was that all about?