It was a surprise when the house across the street posted a FOR SALE sign. I was shocked when a SOLD tag was added the next day. I knew the real estate market was hot, but this was ridiculous.
In the middle of consuming left-over meatloaf, my wife interrupted. "Harvey, did you see the house across the street sold?"
"Un-uh." A lesson learned from years of marriage - acknowledge nothing in the affirmative.
"Don't you notice anything? You never said a word when I got my hair tinted."
"I thought that was the whole point. Supposed to look natural, right? Besides, it's dark by the time I get home."
She shook her head. "The Klymonns are moving back."
This was a real surprise. Bert and Maddie Klymonn and their two kids had moved out about a decade ago. Bert had a big promotion party to celebrate the occasion. Invited the whole block to his backyard, and not just for hot dogs and burgers. Shrimp, steaks, the works. I got sloshed on imported beer that night.
"Oh yeah?" This revelation deserved a more substantial reply.
"By the way, have you sent back the form for High Holy Day tickets?"
Oh yeah, I'd forgotten. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipper were coming up in a couple of weeks. I should have known - it was almost time to replace the screens with glass on the front and back doors. I hope that by now, through my vocabulary and references, you knew I am. Jewish, that is.
"I thought you took care of that." Harriett scowled and dug deep into her dry slice of baked meat.
# # #
About a week passed before the moving truck arrived, followed closely by a station wagon. No, not a minivan. And not a late model either. Grey smoke that matched the numerous rust spots on the body streamed from the tailpipe.
Bert and Maddie got out first. They looked the same, standing in the front yard of their old house. Maybe you can go home again. Jake and Janie came out the same door, in the middle of a wresting match. They'd grown up, both of them. Jake was tall, maybe a couple of inches taller than my six feet. His shoulders looked broad, like he'd been working out. Janie's growing up was as significant and completely feminine. Instead of the scrawny little girl, she was a nicely rounded young lady with curvy hips and a chest. She wore a sweatshirt, red and blue plaid skirt and blue knee socks. A very provocative combination, if I do say so myself. Let's see. If my math is right, she'd be just about . . . oh shit! Eighteen. I decided then and there I'd keep my distance. Bert was a good friend. At least, used to be. I wanted to resume that friendship. No sexy daughter approaching the age of consent was going to screw that up, I mean, mess that up.
Harriett entered the living room, catching me peeking through the drapes. "I made a casserole and a bundt," she said.
"And I thought you liked them."
Harriet put her hands on her hips. "You take the cake."
"I do, don't I?" I tossed back a smile and a raised eyebrow.
"I mean, you, take the cake. It's in the dining room. I'll get the casserole from the fridge."
The cake had an excess of white sugar frosting, perhaps to drown out the taste.
"Janie's back!" Anna flew down the stairs blind, pulling a sweater over her head. It hung up on her chest momentarily, then completed its trip down past her waist.
"Hey, isn't that mine?" One of my favorites, too.
"I'm only borrowing it. Besides, it smells like you." She raised an arm and sniffed the wool, winked, then bolted through the front door.
I threw on an old jacket and went across the street. Maddie stopped giving the movers directions, came over and gave me a big hug. That was expected. Maddie was always openly demonstrative. Bert crashed through the front screen door, leaped down the four concrete steps and gave me a bearhug.
"It's good to see you, Harv."
I stood there, arms pinned to my sides. When he stopped wiggling me back and forth, I got my first good look at his face. Were those tears in his eyes?
"Good to have you back in the neighborhood." I stifled the 'how come' question until later.
"Right." He wiped his face off on a corduroy sleeve. "How's Anna?"
Tight as ever. No, no, banish those thoughts. "Fine. I've only got one."
Bert continued. "You've got to see the kids. They've really grown. Jake! Janie! Get out here!"
Jake came around from the back, hands stuffed deep into the back pockets of his jeans.
"Hey, Mr. M."
"Welcome back, Jake. You playing ball?"
Bert scowled. "Not like it hasn't come up. He's built for it."
"Nah. Sports suck." He scratched his head, mussing an already unkempt mop. "You got time later to talk tech?" Jake had been a typical nerd when he was younger. At least that hadn't changed.
"Sure, any time."
He backed and sided away, up the stairs into his new but old house.
"Great kid. I just wish he'd be a bit more physical." Bert swiveled his head. "Janie! Where is that girl?"
"Coming Dad." The voice came from an open second floor window. Moments later, Janie and Anna skipped out the front door.
Bert's eyes scanned Anna up and down. "Well, you've become quite a young lady."
Anna smiled and pivoted on one foot, hands behind her back.
Maddie came back out. "Where have you been? You know we need your help getting organized."
"Sorry. Just that we've got a lot of catching up to do." Anna's eyes twinkled and she smiled in my direction.
"Hi, Mr. M." Janie stood erect, chest thrust forward. I wasn't doing a bad job of getting erect myself. She lurched forward, her arms encircling my neck. The cake almost did a header onto the cement. "Nice to see you. It's been too long." She pressed her body against mine. There was no way to lean back and prevent her from detecting my hard-on, else we both fall down. The thought of her landing on top of me made me even firmer.
"Nice to, uh, see you too."
"I'll take that, Harvey." Maddie rescued the cake from my unsteady grasp. "And let go of him, Jane. He's not a piece of gymnastic equipment. You've got work to do, young lady."
"I'll help." Anna yanked Janie up the stairs and through the front door.
All the while, Janie was looking back at me. I offered to help Bert and Maddie with unpacking. They refused our help as well as Harriet's offer of a home cooked meal, so we left them to their chores.
# # #
Anna called from across the street, asking if Janie could sleep over.
Before I could offer my opinion, Harriett answered the question. "Jane just got back. There'll be plenty of time for sleepovers. It doesn't have to happen on her first night back."
I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Come home now and give the Klymonn's some privacy."
# # #
I crept past Anna's bedroom in a t-shirt and plaid flannel sleeping pants. Harriett keeps the thermostat and the refrigerator at the same settings.
The plaintive voice called out, "Daddy?"
I clutched the frame and stuck my head into her room. "What's up, sweetheart?"
"Why didn't you want Janie to sleep over?"
I gulped hard. "I didn't say a word. Your mother said no."