A few weeks ago, I heard voices in the empty unit in my duplex, so I stepped out on my porch to investigate. I saw two guys carrying a couch up the steps. I jumped in and gave them a hand, helping them get it through the door.
"Thanks." Said one of the men. He was big, with a shaved head and a thick, black and gray beard, and looked to be in his late forties. The other man looked similar, although he looked a few years older.
"No problem. I'm Kyle, I live next door."
"Oh, well I guess I'm your new neighbor." The man said. "I'm Chuck, and this is my brother Steve."
"Nice to meet you both." I replied, noticing Steve staring at me with an amused look on his face. I knew that look well, and had seen it plenty of times before from straight, masculine men. "Well, if you need anything, just holler." I said.
"Appreciate it." Chuck replied.
I stepped out on the porch, and heard Steve say, "If you need anything, just holler!" In a high pitched voice, mimicking mine.
"Shut the fuck up." Chuck scolded.
"Oh, I bet by anything, he means anything!" Steve said with a laugh.
I laughed a little myself as I went back inside of my apartment. Steve's comments didn't bother me. I am quite effeminate and flamboyant, and have grown used to stares and comments over the years. I do look a bit wild after all, with my bright blonde, short mohawk, dangling earrings, pierced septum and manicured, black fingernails. I also hadn't put on a shirt, so my pierced nipples, belly button and tattoos were all visible. I knew I looked like a freak to masculine, straight men like Steve.
The next day I was taking out my trash, and found Chuck sitting on his porch, drinking a beer. "Hey neighbor." He said in a friendly voice.
"Oh, hey!"
"Want a beer?"
"Oh, yeah, sure." I replied. I took my trash to the can, then stepped onto his porch. He went inside, then returned with two cold bottles.
"Hey, man, I need to apologize for my asshole brother." He said, looking a little embarrassed.
"Oh, no need!" I laughed, waving my hand in a dismissive gesture. "It doesn't bother me."
"He's a prick." Chuck said with a chuckle.
"So what brings you to the neighborhood?" I asked.
"Ah, just getting a divorce."
"Oh, sorry to hear that."
"Ah, she's a cheating cunt." He said. "I'm better off."
"Oh, ok." I replied with a laugh. We exchanged some small talk, and I finished my beer, then went home to get ready for work.
A few nights later, I had my friend Jason over, and he gave me a good, hard fucking. When we finished, I made us both a drink, and we went out on the porch to smoke a joint.
"Evening." I heard Chuck say. I looked over and saw him sitting in a chair, with a beer in his hand.
"Oh hey." I replied, feeling a bit embarrassed, wondering if he had heard me through the thin walls. I am quite loud when I'm getting dick.
"Nice night."
"Yes it is." I said, lighting a joint, taking a puff and passing it to Jason. "Want some?"
"Yeah, why not?" Chuck said. He came over and Jason handed him the joint.
"Chuck, this is my friend Jason." I said. They shook hands, and we passed the joint around. Chuck hung out for a while, then said he was heading to bed. Jason and I, now stoned, began making out, and went back inside for round two.
The next night I came home from work, and found Chuck sitting on the porch with a beer in his hand, and a cigar in his mouth. "Hey neighbor!" He slurred, sounding a little drunk. "What are you up to tonight?"
"Oh, just getting off work."
"Oh, had to work late? That sucks."
"Oh, well, I'm a bartender so it goes with the territory." I explained.
"Oh, I guess so." He said, puffing his cigar. "Want a beer?"
"Um, yeah, sure!"
I sat down, and we hung out, talking and drinking beer. He talked about his ex wife, and his divorce for awhile, then said "Hey I'm sorry man, I don't mean to bore you with my problems. I'll shut up. I'm just drunk and lonely."
"Oh you can keep talking. I'm a bartender so I'm a good listener."
"Well, I appreciate it." He said, chuckling a bit. "Oh man, this being single sucks."
"Oh well, you just gotta get out and have some fun. Maybe meet someone else."
"Oh hell, I wouldn't even know where to start." He replied. "I don't really like bars. I've tried one of those dating apps, but most of those women want money."