The Young Landlords

Paul wants to make up with Gloria. As he considers their conversation, he thinks, “When I thought about it later, I realized that what she was saying, about being for people and everything, wasn’t going to solve the problems of running the building” (91). Paul arrives at the rental office and sees a note from Tina Robinson. An ambulance arrives to take Mr. Hyatt, who is an alcoholic, to the hospital.

Paul tells Gloria, Dean, and Bubba about Pender’s idea to ask people if they know where they can get some cheap hi-fi equipment. They decide to ask A.B. Tucker, who brags that he can locate and provide any desired item. Alone with Paul, Gloria shares the idea of having a fundraiser to take up the slack for those who have not paid their rent. She suggests a street fair.

The two go to Tina’s apartment to repair a broken doorknob. As Paul watches Gloria try to repair the doorknob, he realizes how much he likes her. He takes over for her when she cannot get the set screw to tighten the knob. Paul realizes the threads on the screw have been stripped. When the exterior doorknob falls off, Paul and Gloria realize they are locked in the bathroom. There is no exterior window and no way for them to call for help, so they must wait until Tina or her sister returns. Gloria says she must use the bathroom. Paul says he will turn around, though Gloria says this is not enough. She asks Paul first to turn off the light, then to unscrew the light bulb. He accidentally drops the bulb in the sink, breaking it. Tina returns and inserts the door handle from the outside, opening the door just as Gloria zips her pants.

Paul describes his problematic relationship with his father. His father transformed one of Paul’s closets into an entertainment center. Unfortunately, his father cannot understand why others seem incapable of accomplishing things that are easy for him. They discuss Chris. Paul’s father believes he is guilty, while Paul maintains that he is innocent. Paul’s father says that Chris had a great deal of money after the theft, something Paul did not know. Paul recounts how he gets $4 allowance every week, but only receives $2 of it in change, while the other $2 goes into a savings account his father established for him.

The Action Group invites Chris to come to The Joint. In one conversation, Paul brings up his father’s comment about Chris having money, and Bubba implies that the money came from the stolen hi-fi goods. Chris stands to leave, saying sarcastically, “It’s really cool having friends in your corner” (108).

Before A.B. produces any hi-fi equipment, he says the Action Group must show they have the money to buy it. The group discusses the matter with Pender, who suggests holding a rent party, which would raise money from attendees.

The Action Group gets permission to hold the rent party in Mr. Hyatt’s apartment while he is still in the hospital. They invite the residents and a number of friends as well. The Captain attends the party, which begins quite smoothly. Kenobi arrives. Paul notes that he “was standing in the doorway dressed in a turban, some little gold shorts, and a cape” (113). Tina and then the Captain tell Kenobi he must put on some clothes. Other guests spontaneously begin to throw food at Kenobi, who kicks and chops it out of the air. He gets in a physical confrontation with the Captain, eventually resulting in Kenobi falling to the floor, where other guests hold him down. The Captain calls police officers he knows, who arrive and lead Kenobi away in handcuffs, though they soon allow him to return to his apartment. At the conclusion of the party, the Action Group discovers they have made $4.30.

The Action Group has a conversation with A.B. about the ethics of thievery. He points out that unscrupulous businesspeople surreptitiously steal from ordinary people every day, but the law condones their actions. Chris visits The Joint again, apologizing for his earlier anger. He explains that the money he had was his vacation pay from his boss, Mr. Reynolds, who feels bad for him and hopes he is innocent.

Gloria and Paul ride with A.B. at night to a large warehouse full of many stolen items. On the ride, the two teenagers sit in the backseat of a curtained-off vehicle, so they cannot see where they are going. Gloria notices that the warehouse is guarded by a man with a gun.

As they talk it over with the group members afterward, they realize that they do not know what was taken from the hi-fi store. They wonder what might happen to them if they tell the police what they know about A.B. fencing stolen goods. Bubba suggests, “Maybe we’ll wait until we find out for sure where the place is” (123).