A NEW NEIGHBOR(S) by Mike Austin
nasstop@yahoo.com
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II.
I must've timed it right or been sending out vibes as I turned the corner heading home, there sat the Explorer in the driveway of the recently sold house. I hit my house, gathered the few items, card and basket together for the Welcome to the Neighborhood Gift, checked the mirror and headed back down to the new neighbor's home. Pulling in behind the Explorer, I made a quick wave as both guys were again coming out the front door, stood on the porch, with a sort of stunned look, then warmed a bit as I got out and offered my name, handshake and gift basket. Peter was the taller of the two, Explorer driver and Ed was the waving passenger. I made some apologies for not including more goodies in the basket, but hoped they'd call on me if I could help them get settled in the neighborhood and explained as a free-lance writer that I was home most of the time and happy to meet any vendor they might schedule if they couldn't meet them in person. I learned; they were a couple; this was their first house together; Peter was an expediter with a construction firm and Ed was a commercial event coordinator for a national company; they had a cat and an inside dog. Facts known and laughed about, I got back in my SUV, backed out the drive with an agreed upon future meal together.
My cell rang frantically as I headed passed the few houses to my place. Jackson had tried calling while I was visiting with Peter and Ed and couldn't understand why I hadn't answered. I explained my temporary absence and he launched into birthday party plans tonight. I was caught, too late to feign a headache. We agreed to meet at Camacho's for Mexican and Jackson had invited two mutual fiends along to share the meal. Oh great I thought, wonder if I'll have three of them over for after dinner drinks and entertain until all hours? I told Jackson I'd just meet them at Camacho's and since he was the only one of those three with a car. The other two were devout Uber-ites. We'd meet at 7 and hopefully by 9 I could be back home, ALONE and free of any romp and toss birthday distractions. As you can tell, my beau-du-jour attraction was wearing on me and his 100 mph personality was fatiguing. Not that the sex wasn't great, it's just the personality was well overwhelming!!! Jackson was 32 about 5'10" and blonde, a florist and part-time bartender. His two friends work at the same florist shop and are even wilder than he. At 37, I'm more relaxed and comfortable with my pace, which is why I was shocked about my own speed shopping and Welcome Basket prep work earlier. That just wasn't much like me, I reflected.
The four of us met at Camacho's as planned, ate, laughed about birthdays, had some tres leches birthday cake, then I maneuvered Jackson to drive his friends home and leave me in peace. I spent the night with Masterpiece PBS and woke to Amanpour & Co, not knowing how the Masterpiece production ended, damnit. I was glad to have turned the cell off for some peace and quiet and was equally glad to have phoned the folks before dinner and thanked them for their card and gift. I'd already planned to drive up next weekend for a good visit, as they knew I had the article to finish and weren't put off by my timing.