New Neighbors, Part Ii

Meanwhile, Mrs. Pappadopoulos has circled back and plops down on Fred's front porch, all tuckered out So Fred cheerfully pulls up a chair and together they sit and stare openly ogling, gawking, gaping because, as everyone knows- it's not considered staring if you're in a group of more than one Miss Luby doesn't care about this rule as she is inside, and thus it doesn't apply she perches in a strategically placed armchair, cat on lap, and munches popcorn like she is at a movie relishing the mystery of new neighbors as well as the passing parade “Welcome to the neighborhood!” old Mr. Nicholson says sidling across the lawn toward the unsuspecting couple unlike the other neighbors who manage to maintain some sense of pretense, the incorrigibly nosy Mr. Nicholson comes right out and interrogates the new neighbors asking all the terribly inappropriate questions everyone wants to know but would never dare to ask And as the new neighbors stammer and stutter taken aback, bewildered, bumfuzzled by this brazen barrage of curious queries little fish-eyes blink behind the little round spectacles on his curiously boyish face matter-of-fact, he is utterly unfazed and unaware of the discomfort he is creating eventually, quota filled he hobbles home to share the wealth As night begins to fall the new neighbors finally finish unloading and head back toward the house In a last ditch effort at a closer look Jake, the middle-aged man from next door brings over his heartfelt housewarming gift rich display of bachelor hospitality- half a lukewarm pizza in a greasy box and a liter of cola