Helping My Neighbour

1969! What a great year. So many things happened. The first man walks on the moon, The Beatles give their last public performance, Woodstock Music Festival and many more less upbeat events. Among all of those, in December of '69, I met my neighbour, Annie Pierce for the first time. To me, that was the most eventful thing that happened that year.

Setting the stage here. Annie had lived about two miles up the road from me for probably three years or more. She was, I discovered, twenty six in late '69. I had just turned eighteen at the end of October. She had two kids but was single mom. She was very slim, maybe about 120 pounds, and had very short, reddish-blond hair and the bluest eyes and a very impish smile. She reminded me of Shirley MacLean and even wore her hair similarly to the way she did occasionally. She often wore tight fitting jeans that showed off her lower assets very well especially a slight wedging on occasion. Tiny, upturned cone shaped breasts too that were capped by very long nipples that I had only perceived through a light tee shirt at the mail box down on the corner. Quite evident because of her lack of a bra most of the time. I had never seen her drive by with anyone other than her kids so there was no man in her life, at least at this time. Anytime she drove by in her Volkswagen Beetle she would wave and smile but until December we had never spoken to each other. That all changed during the first week of December when after our first snowfall of the year I was out at the end of the driveway and clearing the pile of snow left by the snow plow. We had had about ten inches of snow the previous night. Annie came along on her drive home and stopped. Just from seeing her on her passings I had developed a crush on her so this was something new and exciting for me, talking to her. She introduced herself and her kids, Irene, aged eight and Jeremy, almost seven.

She asked me for a favour. She had seen that my father had a small snow plow on the front of his vehicle and wanted to know if it would be possible for me to use it to clear her driveway. She said her Bug couldn't handle the deeper snow and the hill on her driveway and didn't want to leave it parked down on the road. I vaguely knew her driveway and knew it was quite long and steep. "Sure," I said. "I'll get the keys and meet you there." She drove off and I went and got the keys for the truck and followed her home. When I arrived the three of them were standing at the end of her driveway and she explained that they would walk up to the house for now and she would have a coffee ready for when I finished.

It didn't take long to clear the driveway as no one had driven on it to pack the snow down except for her on her leaving a while before. The hardest part was actually getting to the top but when I did I just plowed going downhill and after about five passes it was passable. I gave her a ride down to her car and was going to leave but she invited me up for a coffee as a thank you. I accepted the offer. When we went into the house I was surprised by the interior. From the outside it looked pretty decent but once inside I could see that it was a work in progress. Many of the rooms were framed with no actual walls, only the studs. Any privacy was given by hanging curtains, or blankets. Pretty basic. The kitchen was set up with some temporary cabinets, all lowers. They were hand made and rustic but she had a decent range and refrigerator. Off to the side was a wood stove that was used to heat the place.

I guess she noticed me looking around and said "I know, it's not pretty in here but I was able to buy here for a really good price so I am willing to live like this until I can afford to finish what I can, when I can. I put pretty much all my savings into buying so am working slowly at finishing. it." She told me to sit and poured each of us a coffee and she sat opposite me at her table while her kids went into living room area to play. "I would really like to pay you for what you've done for me. What do I owe you?"

I just said "You don't owe me anything. I couldn't take money from you for such a small thing like that."

"If you're sure then, thank you. I will have you up here again to properly thank you when the kids are at school sometime." she stated. That sounded like a hint of something to come but I didn't respond to that. I was very nervous being around her anyway, so I wasn't sure what to say. "I see you outside a lot on my comings and goings." she said. "What types of things do you like to do other than the puttering I see you up to?"

"Not much, really. I like to do some wood working and stuff like that but usually don't have time for that when I am working." I told her. "Right now though I'm laid off for a couple of months until work picks up again after the New Year. That's why I was happy to help you out today. Something to do." We sipped at the coffee and I asked her "What about you? What do you do, and how did you end up here all alone?"

"It's a long story," she said. "Up until three years ago I lived with my partner back east but when that ended I managed to secure half the money from the things we had and I picked up and moved out this way with the kids to start over. I work in the social services area so was able to find work out here quite easily."

"Wow, doesn't your partner miss the kids?" I asked. "It must have been hard to get permission to move them away."

"Oh no, they aren't his kids anyway." she offered. "Their father and I split, got back together again and split again and I haven't seen or heard from him since. I guess it's been at least six years now. It seems that every time we managed to get back together I had another kid so I don't really want to see him again, although having more kids is not possible for me now anyway."

"Oh, really." I said. "That's hard to believe, that he wouldn't want to keep in touch. I know I would be at least interested in knowing how they are and how they are doing. Even wondering how you are too."

"You're kind, but you're young too, so you might think differently if you thought of them and me as a burden." she said. "That's what he thought of us. How old are you anyway? You have such mature thoughts."

"I'm only eighteen so, yeah, maybe I'll think differently later in life." I said. "I don't think so though."

"Oh don't put a lot of stock in what I say when I go on about things." she said. " I am pretty jaded. If you've made it to eighteen and still haven't got the same feelings about life as I do you might just be okay. I was eighteen when I had my first so I had to adjust to life quickly. I'm closing in on twenty-seven now, in about three months."

"That was young!" I said. "I can't imagine." I wasn't expecting this type of conversation but she seemed to want to talk so I listened and commented as I could. My coffee was finished and I said I should get back home. She stood and walked me to the door and out to my vehicle.

At the truck door she thanked me again. "You saved me a lot of walking up and down that hill. I wish I could give you something."

I got in and rolled the window down and told her "No, it's okay. I was glad to help. Do you want me to come back again the next time it snows?"

She leaned on the door and through the window and said "That would be nice. It would give me one less thing to worry about if that took care of itself. Would you be willing sometime to help me with a little building work here too when I can get some supplies? Like, maybe hauling some lumber here for me, or drywall or panelling?"

"I could do that," I said. "At least until I get back to work. Don't know how long that will be. Probably not until March, though, so lots of time to help."

"Perfect," she said. "I'll make it up to you if you can help me. Give me your phone number so I can keep in touch if I don't see you around outside." I found a piece of paper and wrote the number down and she gave me hers as well. "Hope to see you soon."

With that I drove back home. I wondered what "I'll make it up to you" meant, or the "I'll have to properly thank you" statements. My mind will often mis-interpret a lot of things but those seemed so leading. If she was thinking the things I was then I was going to enjoy our working together a lot. Our weather warmed up during the week and the following rain washed away all the snow and it didn't look like it was promising for more snow before Christmas which disappointed me because that was the one avenue I had for visiting her. That changed though about a week and a half before Christmas when the weather cooled again and we received another good dump of snow, about a foot. After clearing our own driveway I asked to borrow the truck with the plow again and I went up to Annie's place to do my good deed. She wasn't home and I could see where her Beetle had pushed a narrow path down the driveway when she had gone out.

I had just about finished the clearing when she came back home. Her and the kids. It was school holiday so they would be present for the time between now and New Years. She managed to get her car past me and got out with a big smile and said to come on in and she would make us another coffee. About five minutes later I parked the truck and went to her door and inside. "You were up early and out!" I said. "I thought I had missed you."

"Did you really miss me?" she smiled. "I missed you and our conversation. I had to drop off some work at my office so I wanted to get it done before who knows how much more snow we got. The roads were pretty decent so I had no trouble."

She waved for me to sit down and she put the coffee on and sat and we talked a bit while her kids asked if they could stay outside and play in the snow for a while. She nodded yes to them so off they went. I hadn't noticed before but there was no TV for entertainment so reading for the most part was their escape but snow, every child loves that. "It must get boring, being cooped up here when you get snowed in." I said.

"Not so much boring, just a little slow." she said. "If I had materials then I could do a little work on the place now and then but with Christmas I am concentrating on making the holidays good for the kids." She got up and went to pour us the coffees and placed them back in front of us.

"What about you? What would make the holidays special for you?" I asked her. And what would the kids like for Christmas? I want to get them something."

"Don't worry about them. They hardly know you. But if you must, a book or two would be good for them." she said. She didn't really reject the idea of me buying them something. "Me? Some company is good for me. Like you are giving me now. It's such a surprise to have you visit."

"I told you I would come by if it snowed again. Don't be surprised." I told her. "I like your company too. I don't know a lot of people, especially women or girls so I am enjoying getting to know you." I blushed when I said that and she noticed.

"Oh, you're getting all red!" she teased me. "What a wonderful compliment though, hearing you say that, especially since I am a lot older than you." What she didn't know is how much I thought of her, especially now that we had finally had a chance to talk to each other and spent some time together. She also didn't know that I had already bought her a Christmas gift. It wasn't much, just a pair or ear rings. Now I had to buy her kids each a book so they could all have something and so I could deliver them.

"Listen," I said, "I don't think you're all that much older than me either. What is it, about ten years? That's nothing when you think about it.. Anyway, it's not like I'm courting you or anything like that. I just enjoy your company."

"I suppose it's not a lot of years between us, and it's more like eight years, or almost." she said, "But you are just starting out in adulthood and here I am with two kids for you to contend with. " I didn't know where this conversation was leading but it seemed to me that she was contemplating spending time with me as much as I was with her. "I don't want people to think I'm robbing the cradle, you know!" She put her hand out towards me and placed it on top of mine. "I do enjoy seeing you." She glanced towards the window and said "I wonder where they got to. I don't like it when they wander too far off."

"Want me to check?" I asked. "At least you have a good, cleared area around the house. It would be easy to follow their tracks." Just then we heard them so all was okay.

"All I was wondering was where they were and how close they were." She said. "I didn't think they should see me holding your hand, especially since this is only your second visit." She hadn't removed her hand.

"It's okay" I said. "Don't get into a position where you may regret them seeing you with me, holding hands. It's nice but they will get put off with me." I went to pull my hand from under hers but she closed hers around mine to hold me there.

"They know I'm kind of interested in you." she said. "I guess I keep saying when we see you when driving by, Oh, there's Don again, and then smiling. Irene has commented about that."

" Well, those times you drive by and I see you, that makes my day." I admitted. "Especially when I see the odd smile and wave from you. I always wondered if we would ever get a chance to meet." We still sipped at our coffees and chatted for a while. Her kids eventually thumped up onto the porch and were coming in so Annie slipped her hand from mine.

"Take those boots off out there" she demanded, "And shake the snow off and put them by the stove." They did so and then took off their coats and hung them up and went off to the living room area. "I suppose you had better get going," she said to me. "This has been so nice but I have a bit of work to do and the sooner the better."

I rose to walk out and she followed and when we were on the porch with the door shut, she put her hand on my shoulder and thanked me for the snow plowing and the great chat. Off I went and drove home thinking about the things we told each other. I was thinking "Was I getting too personal, too fast?" I didn't tell her a lot but she definitely knows I think about her and a bit of what I think. I know how she thinks too so maybe it's all good. "I'll see how it goes when I bring their gifts up." I thought, and couldn't hardly wait for that.

The next day it had warmed again and there was a little rain but that stopped soon enough. I went off to town to see if I could find Annie's kids something for their gifts. The roads were good now, and bare so not a problem getting there and back. My truck was a four wheel drive anyway so I would have been good. I did find them something interesting to read and also a couple of activity books where they can work on their artistic side. At least I thought I had something they would like, based on what I liked when I was younger. Time will tell. I had the store wrap them so I didn't have to, plus I didn't want anyone in my family teasing me about my new "Girlfriend" as my brother was already starting to do. I had already wrapped the ear rings and had them hidden.

I finally got up enough nerve to phone Annie on the 22nd but there was no answer the three times I tried. I tried again the next day and she answered and I asked her if it would be possible to drop off something for her kids later. She said that I shouldn't have gone to that trouble but she would be home all day now so anytime would be good. I arranged to come over later in the day, after dinner. "I'll look forward to it" she said. "It will be nice to see you again."

Being December, it was dark when I arrived at 6:00 pm but she was at the door to meet me, and with her were the kids. "I told them you had something for them, Christmas presents, I said." she explained. I handed the gifts to the kids and Annie told them "Under the tree. You know the rules. Nothing before Christmas Eve, and then only one thing." They went to the far end of the living room area and after examining the packages they put them under the tree. "Come on in," Annie said so I went in and she told me to have a seat at the table again. She turned her attention to the kids and said" You guys go play in your rooms so we can have a quiet chat here." So, off they went. Behind the curtains delineating their rooms from the rest of the house. "I really have to put some drywall up soon because this lack of privacy is driving me nuts!"Then she looked back at me and said "Take off your coat and stay a while. I missed your company. Want a coffee or something?"

I took off my jacket and hung it by the door but first I snuck her little package out of the pocket and hid it behind my back as I sat back down. She was preparing the coffee pot and put it on and came back to sit, this time not opposite me but more or less around the corner of the table from where I was. "What are you hiding there?" she asked. "You have something behind your back!"

I got you a small gift too, I hope you don't mind. I thought you deserved a bit of attention too." I confessed. "Don't get mad."

"You shouldn't have," she scolded me but she took it anyway. "Should I break my rule about no gift before Christmas Eve?"

"That's up to you." I said. I would like to see you open it, to see if you like it or not. I don't have any experience with buying gifts for ladies and I hope I got it right."

She looked towards where her kids were just behind the curtains, about twenty feet away, and said "Don't tell them. This can be our secret. I feel bad though because I didn't think to get you anything. She slowly and quietly peeled the wrap paper from her gift and opened the small box and when she saw the ear rings she beamed a big smile. They were basically just a hoop type thing with what was supposed to be one small, carved feather hanging from the hoop. "I love these. They are perfect. They remind me of something from native culture and I am so into that type of thing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She leaned towards me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

I smiled at her now too. "Don't get me anything either." I told her. "That kiss was a perfect gift." She had gone to get the coffee pot and two cups and poured a coffee for both of us and sat back down. She just looked at me and was smiling.

"That kiss was nothing!" She said. "I can do a lot better than that, kiss wise, and better in other ways!" She sat looking at me, her chin resting on her hand and her elbow on the table supporting it. She had a dreamy smile on her face as she looked at me as if contemplating something in the future.

"Don't tease me like that!" I said. "I wish I was older so you would look at me like a person you could take seriously! This is what, our third time talking and having coffee?" I wasn't meaning to sound angry but I think she may have taken it that way. "Sorry, I'm not mad or anything, just facing a truth about me, not you."

"No, it's me who should apologize. I do take you seriously." she said. "I love the ear rings and I love that you thought of me in that way. And you being younger isn't bothering me at all. It's under ten years anyway. I never set out to lure you here to make fun of you in the end. I needed some help with the driveway and I had been wondering how I could even approach you, to get to know you better. I was always interested in you as a friend, or more and the snowfall gave me a reason to finally stop and talk to you. If anything I was worried that the age thing might turn you off."

"Don't think that. I have been fantasizing about how to meet you too." I explained. "I didn't think an older woman, even though it's only a few years, would be interested in a younger, inexperienced guy like me. I like you a lot and I have for some time."

"Okay, so that's out there now! We like each other." she said. "Let's forget both of our insecurities and enjoy our new friendship. When you said "inexperienced" did you mean in relationships? Or was it something else?"