Excerpt Hakim sits on the windowsill, his gaze spreading to the other side of the road from his fourth-floor, 1000-square-foot, two bedroom apartment opposite Grandview Memorial Park. He has been renting this small place for the past three years, while trying to save for a down payment to buy a place of his own. The building is fairly new and his rent affordable. His Uncle Ibrahim always told him, "If you want to get ahead in life, make sure you buy real estate." He feels very comfortable and has decorated it well. He is happy with the job he's had for the last one-and-a-half years with a small computer company. A shareholder earning good money, he is able to afford a two-year-old, red Honda Accord, his pride and joy. He also prides himself on the sensible way he leads his life. Hakim comes from a country devastated by war and knows he will have to work hard for a long time to establish himself in his new country. Jennifer, his girlfriend of eight months, has helped him decorate his apartment, in selecting carpets, furniture, bedding, and much more. Although an immense help, Hakim sometimes thinks she goes too far, crowding his space and insisting her view to be correct every time. Jennifer is twenty-five, a beautiful brunette with light green eyes and fair complexion. She has grown up in Los Angeles, has a degree in economics, and works for a small finance company. She earns enough to live on her own, although she still lives with her parents in their house off Glendale toward South Brand Blvd. in Pasadena.