"The Polish Prince"

There was a point in my life in NYC that I kinda lived under a bridge.

I was going to Hunter College, second semester, and my emergency housing situation ran dry. Thanks to a classmate, I got and extra month but I ended up back on the streets for a day or two until I met A, after one of my classes.

Was in between courses, hanging out in front of the main lobby where all the cool kids smoked and joked and talked about life.

Dude in a classy suit approaches me while I'm playing guitar. Introduces himself with a handshake from his gigantic tough leathered hands and a vice like grip, never breaking eye contact.

This guy is larger than life. 6'5", ripped, and moved fast, even for a New Yorker. High class suit tie shoes. Fierce dark blue eyes. The works.

Within about a minute of conversation I could tell this dude was operating at another level. Tells me he's a member in the student council(to the point where he was able to influence money making decisions) got friends everywhere in high and low places, etc. Is in control of a number of "extra curricular" groups. All while selling cigs, weed, and pills to random people who were walking up to him in droves.

Dude is a mover and a shaker. We hit it off at the get go.

He asks me what I'm about and I tell him I'm a vet. Just doing the school thing. Mention in passing that I'm looking for a new place to stay. He immediately offers his place to me. "Hey man I just slum it with my mom but we got an extra spot. $350. And it's only one stop away from Hunter on the F train!"

Sounds like a fucking steal. "I'm in man let's go right now!"

We disembark from Hunter on the way to the F train. And on to Roosevelt island we go!

Fun fact: the 63rd st F train station is the deepest underground of any of the stations.

The ride is short and takes us under the river. Ten minutes tops from school to my new home. I was excited!

We get up and out and while doing the standard walking and talking I follow him over to his spot, observing my surroundings as we do so.

This island is rad! A giant bridge goes over it, you can get there By road, train or tram. You got Manhattan on one end of the island and Queens on the other. Smack dab in the middle of NYC.

I'm thinking to myself " $350 for this little slice of paradise.... What gives?" Boy was I about to find out.

We get into his complex. It's fresh as hell. Clean, directly on the water, right next to a market and an Italian restaurant (best spicy squid diavolo in town.) The place was everything I could have hoped for.

We get in the elevator, go up six floors. Walk down a hallway. Get to the door. "Welcome to my place" he tells me, and opens her on up.

An older lady now stands before me in a bra and panties, with a smirk on her face.

"A, I wish you tell me before having guest. Who this man?" She questions in a heavy European accent.

"Ma, this is Aaron, he's our new roommate" he replies, while giving her a hug. She gives him a look and just nods as we pass through the kitchen and he shows me to my room.

Tiny, just enough to fit a king sized bed(just the mattress, on the floor) and a computer desk. "This is the kings bed. I'm a polish prince you know. I usually sleep here but since you are a paying guest I'm going to move into the family room." He gestures for me to get comfortable, grabs some items and leaves while I settle in.

Day goes by, we talk, smoke, regale each other of tales of our younger years. Everything seems gravy. Time to hit the hay.

Sleep is but one shallow breath away.

"YOU OWE ME THAT MONEY MOTHER FUCKER, AND YOU AINT WALKING OUTTA HERE WITHOUT SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION, DO YOU FUCKIN UNDERSTAND????"

I jolt up. I hear commotion, like a brawl happening right outside my room.

CRACK and a loud yelp as someone is slammed against the door to my room.

(this is a multipart story, that I will be adding to as I go along, will link the pages in here as I do so.)