Long, long ago there was window watcher who kept school children passing by on their best behaviors. In fact, they would not walk close by his/her window but opted to use the other side of the street. He, or she, lived in a derelict mansion and the overgrown grounds that encompassed a big city block were strictly to be avoided at all costs!

      However, time ends all mysteries or threats. The absentee owners finally sold the property and the window watcher disappeared! He/she had been a big bust of someone famous (I suppose) sitting on a table by the window!

      Every neighborhood needs a window watcher and a new legend is in the making. Let me tell you about a new watcher. Mind you, now, window watchers are not always spies or the overly curious. One must not fault them for having a comfy chair in a serendipitous location.

      I've named the legend-in-the-making "WW." WW isn’t a fictitious character but WW’s identity is being protected for obvious reasons.

      WW and the barn cat from down the road often have staring matches. Eventually the cat slinks away; so, apparently, WW’s presence is strong, even through a window pane.

      WW enjoys watching the somewhat intellectually-challenged dogs across the road. A six-foot section of picket fence over there falls down with regularity. However, the dogs continue to chase cars, trucks, and joggers as though the fence were intact! They could also easily walk away from home because the gate is seldom closed.

      School bus time is busy for WW. Boys enjoy throwing snowballs at each other as they await their bus. Girls stand aloof and pretend the boys do not exist! WW knows who stays home from school and those who got up so late that a parent had to drive them.

      WW knows who obeys the stop sign at the corner, who practices 'rolling stops,' and who blows right through the intersection! WW also sees flat tires and hears painful stripping of gears courtesy of the house across the road. All families with three drivers need a spare vehicle.

      Weather holds no secrets from WW. The tightness of rolled azalea leaves tells the temperature; a look to the western sky foretells precipitation on the way during the day; a haze around the moon indicates snow; a bird- feeding frenzy is the fore-runner of bad weather. Blowing snow or leaves indicate wind direction! Dew that will not dry up tells WW that humidity is very high.

      The very elderly man and his very elderly dog that slowly walk the length of their driveway thrice daily remind WW that no living things will last forever.

       WW has just once been spurred to action by what was observed from behind a window. On a pitch black morning at 5 a.m., WW observed a fire across the road and down a ways. 9-1-1 was called and the volunteer fire department rolled into action. Homeowner turned out to be trying to illegally burn leaves when he thought no one would catch him! How was WW to know?

      Smile and wave to the WW in your neighborhood!