·Sammy·
TwofriendsandImovedintoahouseoffcampuswhenIwasajunioratIowaStateUniversity.Wewereallabitafraidofourlandlord，agruffmiddle-agedman.Hegaveusalectureaboutpayingtherentontimeandmaintainingthehouseandappliances.
Duringthefallsemester，myhousematesandIthrewaparty.WesentinvitationstomanyfriendsandtoldeveryonetocometoourhouseonFridaynight.Wedrewalargecrowdandeveryonehadagreattime.Thelastguestsleftintheweehoursofthemorning.
Exhausted，wedecidedtosleepinandcleanthehouseandyardthenextmorning.Well，youguessedit!Wewereawakenedabout7:00a.m.byourlandlord，whowasknockingonthedoor.Sheepishly，welethimin，expectingtoincurhiswrath.Instead，hepickedupapartyinvitationthathadbeenlayingonthesidewalkandasked，“Whydidn’tyougirlsinviteme?”Hecameintothehouse，madeaminorrepair，andspentafewminuteshelpinguspickuptrashfromtheyard.Weweren’tquitesurewhattomakeofourunexpectedluck，butwewerethrilledthatourlandlordhadbeensounderstanding.
Afewmonthslater，ImadeamathematicalerrorwhilebalancingmycheckbookandmybanksoonnotifiedmethatIhadbouncedacheck.IwasmortifiedwhenIdiscoveredthatitwasmyrentcheckandthatIhadtonotifymylandlord，IfiguredthatheviewedmyhousematesandIasirresponsibleafterthepartyincidentandthiswouldprovehimright.Iwascertainthathewouldevictme.Somehow，Imusteredthecouragetocallhimandexplainedwhathadhappened.Hesaid，“Ihaveadaughteraboutyourage，andthesamethinghappenedtoheronce.Wouldyouliketowaituntilnextmonthandsendadoublepaymentthen?”
I’veneverforgottenourlandlord’skindnessandunderstanding.Healsotaughtmeanimportantlessonaboutnotjudgingabookbyitscover.I’mproudtosaythatIhavenotbouncedachecksincethoughIhavethrownafewmoreparties!