I wasn't very happy to see that the new neighbors had two dogs, seeing the dogs I wished yet again that I had had the foresight to purchase the empty lot next door when I built my house. Five years after my house was built construction started next door. Things got off on the wrong foot from the start, the builders constructed a wall of railroad ties and started hauling in dirt to level the lot and for the next six months my driveway and lawn was covered in mud after every rain.
Then the owners moved in, a young professional couple with a yapping little rat dog. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, but asthma and a desire for peace and quiet have kept me from having any since I was a teen. We live at the end of a cul-de-sac surrounded by over a thousand acres of old growth forest, with every kind of beast and fowl one would expect in such an area. That dammed dog never quit barking; my office window downstairs and my bedroom window upstairs are on that side of the house so there was no escape, it would interrupt both sleep and work, they seemed never to be home so I guess it didn't bother them. I was happy when that dog and its people moved after just a couple of years.
The next owners were a young family and a wiener dog that made the last dog seem mute. I hated that dog, I seriously considered killing it to silence it. I had more than one conversation with them to keep the dog quiet at least at night. After every conversation they would keep it in the house for a week or so and then it would return. It was a pleasure to watch their boys grow up, play sports and go off to college, I was the nice old guy next door (I was in my forties) so I didn't want to make a big issue over barking. I was ecstatic when that dog died, until they brought home two new puppies. Bad neighbors are the bane of my existence. After the younger son graduated and left so did they to downsize and for a few months the house was empty and my world was peaceful.
Then the moving trucks showed up and I was greeted by two dogs running toward me growling, barking and with barred teeth while I was working in the yard. Swiftly behind them yelling was a slender young man.
"I'm so sorry," he said, "They are harmless, all bark and no bite."
"They are just being dogs and protecting their new home," I responded, "welcome to the neighborhood, I am Hogan."
"Jim," he responded, while offering a hand to shake. "And that's my wife Jill." gesturing to the attractive brunette with lots of curves carrying a baby and holding the hand of a toddler walking up behind.
"And this is Abby, and Ally," she added.
"I am very pleased to meet you all, Can I help in the unloading." I offered.
Simultaneously they said, "we couldn't intrude."
My smile and nod let them know that they could.
"That would be wonderful, if you truly don't mind." They spoke, finishing each other's thoughts.
For the next few hours Jim and I unloaded the moving van while Jill directed and unboxed their dishes and other kitchen items.
Covered in sweat and dust from the boxes Jim and I dropped into opposite ends of the couch after setting and moving it to where Jill directed, as it was the last item to be moved.
"Whoa, boys, you're not done, we still have to set up the beds." Jill proclaimed as she entered the living room. So up the stair we trod assembling first the girls bunks, then the massive four-poster in the master. I could not help but notice odd worn circles on each post just below the mattress level. After laying down the mattress Jim and I headed back to the couch as Jill was putting sheets on the girls beds and tucking them in for the night. After getting the girls situated she came down to join us choosing to sit between Jim and I rather than on the chair or settee.
"Hogan, thanks again for the help, we could not have managed without you. I would offer you a beer, but you haven't hooked up the fridge yet." She said with a smile and a chuckle.
"How rude of me," I responded, "I'll be right back." I walked next door to my house and came back with a six pack of beer and a bottle of pinot.
"You are my new best friend." Was Jill's response.
"And a great neighbor." From Jim, as he hoisted his beer in salute.
Jill checked again on the girls and returned to sit, rest, drink, and converse, I learned how they had met in College and how it was love at first sight, Jim was Jill's first date, first kiss, first ...everything. They are both in their late 20's and I am in my fifties. When the beer and bottle were gone, I said my goodnight and went home. Over the next few months got to know the family well, the girls started calling me Papa Ogan as we shared time together and almost weekly hosted the other for dinner or a bar-b-que.
Jill joined me almost every day on my daily walk, she started to trim down and firm up almost immediately. About six months in she was down to, as she referred, "her fighting weight." She stated that she had not weighed that little since high school. Her flat tummy and thin waist were exaggerated by her large breasts (still nursing) and apple shaped ass. She was still curvy but her curves now were tight and firm. In our conversations I learned that she had been the tomboy turned nerd/gamer and was never even asked on a date until college when she met Jim.