CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - A ROOM OF HER OWN

  Nia and Maria leaned out, admiring the view. But as they did, movement caught their eye. There, on the fire escape, were three raccoons, their little hands clasped together as if in greeting. "Oh!" Tiffany exclaimed, her smile faltering slightly. "I see you've met the neighbors." Nia blinked in disbelief. "Are those... raccoons?" "They're very friendly," Tiffany assured them quickly. "And they mostly come out at night, so you'll hardly ever see them." Maria stifled a laugh. "Do they pay rent too?" Tiffany's smile became somewhat strained. "Now, let me show you the bedroom..." As they left, Nia and Maria couldn't help but burst into laughter again. "Friendly raccoons," Nia repeated, shaking her head. "Only in New York." By midday, they had seen six apartments, each seemingly worse than the last. There was the one with the mysterious stain on the ceiling that the landlord swore was "just part of the building's character." Then there was the apartment where every single applian