So I am just getting off my trainer in my living room and I look out my back sliding door across my back yard to the neighbors’ house across the fence. Three kids are running around in the dirty snow in the garbage-strewn backyard, freaking out and the dog is barking. Then dad comes out of the back sliding door in the same ancient grey sweats he always wears, portable telephone in one hand and proceeds to call. By then I notice the smoke streaming out the windows on both sides of the house and out the door.
Well, everyone was fine, the fire engines showed up 10 minutes later, but the inside of the house is gutted. I don’t know how the fire started: either Dad, who chain smokes, or the kids, started it, I bet. Thank God it happened at noon and not at night.
This is cruel to say but I won’t miss my neighbors. The kids shot BBs at my house several times and were getting in the habit of chucking snowballs as well. I hate their retarded dog, too. I would start mowing my lawn and the idiot beast would come over and bark at me through the fence.
But it’s sad, really. The house is truly Casa Squalor. A case of neglect. I planted a lot of arbor vitae so I wouldn’t have to see all the trash (coolers, balls, blankets) that was strewn about the yard since I moved into my house in the spring. The kids are about 6 and 10 and the younger child, a boy, had taken to hanging out with boys quite a few years older who would cuss a lot. I believe they inspired the BB gun rampages. I never saw the girl much. I have no idea what the dad does except smoke cigarettes. I don’t think he works much. Neighbors said the mom (who is gone) is much worse (crazy alcoholic or something). The times I went over there to talk to the dad about the kids throwing stuff at my house I peered in and the living room was knee-deep in debris. Well, the Red Cross is helping them now. Just a strange story.
regards, TB- Livin’ amongst the common folks