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THE
CONCERNED NEIGHBOR
Emily
couldn't see through the window because of all the dust and cobwebs. She
dug deep into her jacket pocket, found a tissue and rubbed enough dirt
away so she could see onto the street. It was no longer the street where
she used to live. Many of the houses were boarded up, as a result of fires
or abandonment. Empty bottles and trash lined the street. Vacant lots
covered many areas where at one time other tenement houses stood. As a
woman who remembered how it once was, she wanted to cry but she held back.
Crying on the job would not be permissible in her position. As her eyes
scanned the dreary site she remembered a happier time when the view from
this window overlooked a parking lot surrounded by trees and flower gardens,
when the houses were filled with the smiling faces of friendly neighbors.
Except for one neighbor at first. Emily remembered the day she moved in.
It was her first apartment and her first encounter with Mrs. Dithers ...
Emily couldn't figure out which car was which. Stan said his bag was in
the white Chevy Nova. There were two and she had never seen his latest
mode of transportation. He was in the shower when he remembered that he
forgot his change of clothes in the car. She looked up to their third
floor apartment to see if he may be in the window to direct her. He wasn't.
Emily chose to investigate the Nova on the left first. It was spotless
and shined like new. "This has to be his new baby." She went
to open the door and out of the apartment building flew an elderly woman
in curlers, a pink bathrobe and floppy slippers wielding a broom.
"Get away from that car! she screamed, That's Mr. Mahoney's car!
If you don't move along young lady, I'll call the police!"
"I'm sorry! I thought this was my boyfriend's car."
"You don't know your own beau's car?" asked the woman.
Emily answered, "No, I mean, he just got it and he's been away for
awhile. This is our first night together in our new apart-" She stopped
herself as she noticed the woman, who had finally put the broom down looking
at her underneath raised eyebrows. "Why am I telling you this?"
"Because you've noticed hopefully that I am a concerned neighbor.
Someone's got to make sure that the cars are safe out here. I was sitting
at my window and I noticed you eyeing these vehicles. You may look innocent
but innocent looking people can be the biggest cut-throats. It's important
to keep an eye on everybody. You'll thank me someday for this."
.
"I'm sure I will, but remember that white Chevy Nova is Stan's car
and the Red Ford over there is mine." said Emily.
"I know, your need a new muffler." said the lady, "I might
as well introduce myself, I'm Margaret, Mrs. Margaret Dithers
and you are ....?
"Emily Bronson. If you knew I had a car why did you think I wanted
to steal the Nova?"
"Because you need a new one. I give that Ford 6 months."
"Thank you for your life assessment of my car."
"Anytime, just keeping an eye out that's all."
Emily suppressed her dissatisfaction 'Why don't you mind your own business,'
she thought. Then the woman's withered face lightened up and her wrinkled
mouth curved up to form a caring smile.
"Good day dear." She turned away from Emily and walked slowly
back into the building.
Emily walked over to the Nova on the right, as she approached the car
she noticed her own reflection in the window. She was only 20 years old,
there were no lines in her face, the highlights glowed in her copper hair
as the sun reflected it's rays against it. Her movements were swift and
when she ran a short distance it increased her energy, it didn't deter
it. Her muscular arms and legs enhanced her youthfulness. Then she looked
at the woman who was making her way into the doorway. Her breathing was
shallow. It was hard to believe this woman had just burst out of her home
like a hurricane.
"Hey!" shouted a male voice.
Emily looked up to see Stan with his head out the window smiling down
at her.
"What's taking you so long, I'm naked, I'm wet and I'm waiting."
yelled Stan. His long blond locks blowing in the spring breeze.
Emily was grateful that Mrs. Dithers had gone inside. She smiled back,
looked around and shushed him. She opened the door of the car, grabbed
his bag, slammed the door and ran up the stairs and into her lover's awaiting
arms.
The next day Stan slept in and Emily took a morning stroll to the store.
She wanted to surprise him by making his favorite breakfast, french toast,
sausage and orange juice. As she was scanning the aisles for bread she
overheard two older women talking.
"She's such a busybody, I wish she'd just leave people alone,"
said a heavy-set woman in the orange and brown floral dress wearing Dr.
Schols slip-ons.
"She reprimanded my Harry last night for leaning on your car,"
said a slim woman in the red polyester pantsuit.
"She locks that front door at 7:00 each night. It drives me crazy,
I hate to have to fumble for my keys in the dark."
"She thinks she owns the place."
"Has anyone talked to the landlord about her?" said the heavy-set
woman
"I did last week. He said she's no bother, just a concerned neighbor."
Just then, the woman in the obnoxious floral dress noticed Emily. "Hey,
aren't you the little girl who moved in upstairs?"
"I don't know, what's your address?" asked Emily.
"254 Maple?"
"Yes, I live there. I'm Emily Bronson."
"I'm Agnes Maplethorpe," said the woman in the pantsuit.
"I'm Phyllis Wilson," said the portly woman. You had a run in
with her yesterday didn't you?"
"With who?" asked Emily.
"Snoopy-nose Drithers, she yelled at you about peering into Mr. Mahoney's
Nova."
"It was looking for my boyfriend's car." said Emily.
"Well never-the-less, don't you think that was rude?" asked
Agnes.
"I didn't really think about it." answered Emily.
"Don't worry dear, you will." said Phyllis.
The women insisted that they all walk back together. Emily listened as
they bad mouthed Mrs. Dithers all the way back.
Mrs. Dithers was sitting in a lawn chair reading, she looked up to see
the women approaching. She smiled and nodded to them "Hi Agnes, Hello
Phyllis and how are you today my dear Emily?"
"Fine, Thank you, Mrs. Dithers" answered Emily.
"Oh Margaret, you look so lovely today." said Agnes.
"I see your keeping an eye on our cars again, I don't know what we'd
do without you," said Phyllis.
The women continued in and as Emily followed in behind them she heard
Mrs. Dithers softly say what she herself was thinking, "Hypocrites."
Before Emily could start breakfast Stan was urging her to go back to bed.
She didn't need much persuasion. So far they enjoyed living together.
The whole day and a half of it. Three quarters of the time they'd been
in bed. It was just like a honeymoon, without the rings. The rest of the
time they cruised around town in the Nova, and met up with some of Stan's
friends and hung out at the beach. Right now their minds were on one thing
and one thing only.
She kissed him as he pulled her into bed. Stan helped her off with her
tank top then locked her lips into a long kiss, then he began to kiss
her shoulders. Emily enjoyed having him with her, wanting her. She wanted
him, she gave in completely. They were totally immersed in each other
when they were interrupted by a knock. "Damn", uttered Emily.
They ignored the interruption and continued. The person knocked again.
Emily withdrew from her lover to get up.
He pulled her back down. "Don't answer it", he said, kissing
her lips.
The person was now banging harder, "Emily, Emily I have to talk to
you?"
Emily sighed, kissed Stan got up, put a robe on and answered the door.
Mrs. Dithers stood there. "Your young man's car, some boys are trying
to steal it. I called the police, they're on their way. Stan overheard,
bolted past the two woman and ran down the stairs. Mrs. Dithers looked
to where the naked man had run by and back to Emily who donned only a
bath robe. She picked up Emily's left hand, noticed no ring, shook her
head, clucked her tongue three times, and said "A man never buys
the cow if he can get the milk for free."
Sirens screeched outside and the women crossed to the kitchen window and
looked down, the boys weren't thieves at all, just Stan's friends come
by for a visit. They got a good laugh at their naked friend who was now
turning several shades of red and shielding his manhood. The policemen
came out thier cruiser and stood looking at the naked young man. A humiliated
Stan ran back upstairs and caught Mrs. Dithers and Emily laughing at him
as well. He entered the bathroom, slammed the door behind him and asked
"Emily, will you please get me my clothes.?"
After that, Emily and Mrs. Dithers became good friends. Emily visited
her often. Mrs. Dithers encouraged Emily to take night courses and soon
Emily found herself busy with her waitress job during the day and going
to classes at night. After her first semester, an excited Emily called
on Mrs. Dithers to show off her grade A average. After not getting an
answer she got the landlord to open the door to the older woman's apartment.
They found Mrs. Dithers sitting in a chair by a window. She had been watching
the cars, a concerned neighbor to the end.
* * *
Emily was now 43 years old, widowed with two grown children. Stan had
not been the father. He left a few months later to dodge the draft, never
to be seen or heard from again. Her children's father had been Joe Surgess,
a policeman killed in the line of duty. Joe was the opposite of Stan,
a Vietnam Vet who never slacked off a day in his life.
Emily fondly remembered how the world was much more innocent in the days
when she was first out on her own. The neighborhood had gotten corrupt.
Drug busts and murders were everyday occurrences on that block. As she
stood at the window where Margaret had died, she remembered the elderly
crime fighter. Now as she investigated the old building, Police Lieutenant
Emily Surgess and her patrol had discovered enough evidence to bust the
drug ring that had turned the building that once was her home, into the
most notorious crack house in town. All they needed to do now was to wait
for them to enter the building. So she waited, waited to stop a crime
from happening just like a concerned neighbor she knew years and years
ago.
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