Webster remembered driving all night that first night. Without a stopping place in mind, he had headed north. In the early hours of morning and somewhere along the dark highway, he picked Washington DC, as his destination.

Arriving on a Sunday morning, Webster stopped at a neighborhood cafe and ordered breakfast. Mentioning the need for a place to stay, a friendly waitress suggested he head over to Georgetown, even giving directions. She suggested he search for signs advertising apartments for rent. “They’re the best,” she said, even if a little pricy, and they’re there, she told him, “if you look hard enough.”

Finding Georgetown had been the easy part. As the waitress warned, driving the streets searching for signs advertising the rentals had been the challenge. Webster was out of his element. Yet, he remained positive and continued looking.

Finally!

The house was large, obviously old, and reeked of money. A small sign at the street only said there was an apartment available, nothing more. Webster had been hesitant to even ring the doorbell.

Summoning courage, he mounted the curving brick steps, took a deep breath, and pushed the button. They’re just people like me, he remembered thinking that day. And it’s Sunday. Everybody has to be nice on Sunday. He had smiled again, thinking, I bet it’s a rule that you have to smile.

The door had swung open revealing a short older woman. She couldn’t have been more than five feet, but her grin was a good six-footer. Webster had resisted the temptation to look behind him for someone she knew and liked. But he knew there was no one else. The little woman was definitely smiling at him.

“Well, hello young man,” she said. “I bet you are here about the apartment.” Taking webster by the arm, she pulled him inside and gave the door a hearty shove.

“Come,” she said. “I’ll show you.”

That was how it all started.

Watch for future episodes to learn more about Webster.