Alison has had a busy day working on her new house. Away from home and friends and starting a new job, she is doing a good job of making her own way in life. However, her first encounter with her new neighbor hasn't exactly been borrowing a cup of sugar - she catches him, she believes, spying on her. A hard day's work behind her, she showers and settles in for the evening...
It was starting to get dark by the time I'd showered, pulled on a pair of tracksuit trousers and a t-shirt and settled down in front of the TV. I curled up on the sofa and flicked through the channels to see what was on. Not much was the answer - early evening on a weekday meant documentaries and soaps and I wasn't really in the mood.
I flicked the TV off and put some music on instead. It was times like this I missed home, or at least being home with my friends. There wasn't anyone at work I'd made particular friends with yet but it was early days. So, I sighed and resigned myself to another quiet night in. After a hard day working on clearing out the basement that was no bad thing, I supposed. Plus, I had a lot to do in the morning. I needed to make the most of my week off and get as much of the house sorted as I could.
Deciding a drink was a suitable reward for such a hard day I poured a big glass of red wine. Now without a kitchen, having stripped out the old one, I was limited on options for evening meal. I made a sandwich from what was in the fridge, sipping my wine as I put it together. By the time I'd finished I'd got through the glass of wine. It had been an eventful day and I needed it. The thought of the guy from next door leering at me standing there half naked and sopping came back to me. I wasn't going to let it get to me, I thought. I poured another and settled down on the sofa.
My arms and legs were starting to ache a bit by now after the day's exertions. Before long the wine started to take effect as I stretched out, listening to the music and thumbing idly through a magazine. It was starting to get dark. Reluctantly, I got up and switched on the side light. I went to the window and looked out on to the quiet street. Right outside the window was a large red van. It was there every night, meaning I had to park my car further down the street.
I wasn't sure, since I hadn't been in the house too long, but I guessed it belonged to the guy next door. So, not only was he perving on me, but he had to park his bloody big van right outside my house, too. It was probably the drink, and being tired, but I decided next time I saw him I was going to give him a piece of my mind.
I pulled the curtains closed with a rather sharp tug. Yes, I was going to tell him exactly what I thought of him. No point letting it fester. I had invested a lot in my new home and wasn't going to have it spoiled by a van and its peeping tom owner.
I must have drifted off to sleep soon after. Not sure what the time was exactly, I woke with a start. Deciding it must have been the music that had woken me, I fumbled on the floor beside me for my glass and finished off what remained. Just then there was aloud knock at the front door.
I'd intended fitting a chain but hadn't got round to it, so I slowly opened the door. A man stood there on the doorstep - maybe early thirties, tall. It was difficult to see in the narrow shaft of light coming from behind me though the crack in the doorway.
'Who is it and what do you want at this time of night?' I said sharply.
'Hi, I'm from next door. We, urm, met this afternoon,' he said. 'You were in your basement. And anyway, its only 8.30.'
I looked at him for a moment. My earlier determination to give him what for had subsided somewhat with the reality of him standing there on my doorstep.
'And?' I said coolly. 'Come back for another eyeful, have you? Want me to open the curtains so you just see in instead of having to knock?'
I'd had more to drink than perhaps I should have and all I'd had to eat was a sandwich. I was probably slurring my words a little, too. He looked down at the empty wine glass in my hand. Self consciously, I hid it behind me.
'Look,' he said in a matter of fact tone,'I just came round to apologize and to say it was a misunderstanding - seeing you... like that. I saw you were doing something down in the basement and thought I might be able to help. You're on your own here aren't you?'
'Oh, right! Been spying on me good and proper!' I slurred.
'For god's sake, no!' He said, I must say looking a little wounded. 'I'm a builder. I thought I could help.'
'Explains the van,' I muttered.
'Sorry?' he said.
'Nothing,' I replied. 'So, what do you want now, anyway?'
'Same thing - to see of you need a hand. Maybe I shouldn't have bothered.'
He started to turn away. I wondered if I'd regret it but I called after him.
'Wait! Maybe I could do with a hand.'
He stopped and turned back.
'There's a lot for me to do. Maybe you could try to make up for your perving,' I said coyly.
'What is it you are doing?' he said.
'Everything,' I said. 'The house is a mess. The whole thing wants gutting.'
'And you're doing it yourself?' he asked, surprised.
'Yep. I'm not some useless airhead, you know.'
'I'm impressed,' he said. 'But if there is anything you want some, urm, assistance with, then let me know.'
'I'll bear that in mind,' I said non-commitally.
'Fair enough,' he said and turned to head back next door.
Then I had an idea. Which considering how much wine I'd knocked back was pretty good going.
'That van of yours - get a lot in it can you?' I called.
'Suppose,' he said. 'Like what, exactly?'
'Like a kitchen?'