Steven Shaw only half concentrated on the free throw shot he was about to make. Dribbling the ball a few more times, he launched it at the basket hung over his garage door. The ball hit the back board, bounced once on the faded orange rim before dropping through the tattered net. The lanky youth retrieved the ball and returned to the make shift line on the driveway. He was just killing time. He had no aspirations of becoming a NBA player, although he was wearing a Lakers jersey. He wasn't even going to try out for the freshman team at the college he was to attend in the fall; he was more of a geek than a jock. Steven was about to send the ball arching to the goal once more when the Henderson's white SUV turned the corner and rolled to a stop in their driveway next door.
Cheryl Henderson put the vehicle in park and shut off the engine. Steven watched as her leg appeared from the drivers door, extending to the ground. The 4" sandal heels she had on made her look so much sexier even in the most casual of clothes. The light blue sun dress she wore, stopped at her knee, giving Steven an excellent view of her toned legs as she slid from the seat. The loose fitting garment also helped to hide the unmistakable swell of her pregnant belly, but Steven still found her irresistible. He could remember the day he first met her and her whole family almost nine years ago.
***
Steven focused carefully on the delicate brush strokes he made on the X-Wing fighter model he was building. His dad had cleared an area on the garage work bench for the ten year old to build and paint his scaled replicas. He had labored long and hard on this latest one, trying to get it perfect but the loud rattle of a large diesel engine approaching distracted him. The noise increased until finally there was a whoosh of air then the motor fell silent. He put his brush in some water and went to investigate.
Stepping out into the warm sun on that late June day, Steven saw a large moving van in front of the recently vacated house next door. A brand new Ford Explorer pulled into the driveway before he even got to the side walk.
"I hope the new neighbors aren't another old couple like the Flynn's," he muttered to himself, thinking of the last occupants.
James Henderson, Jimmy he preferred, stepped out of the SUV, arching his back to get the knots out after the long drive. It felt to him like every inch of his slime 6'-3" frame had some kind of kink in it. At 40, his close cropped hair was still jet black with only a slight sprinkling of gray at his temples. He had prominent cheek bones and a very angular jaw with what appeared to be two days worth of stubble on it. His piercing blue eyes were the final accent to his ruggedly handsome appearance.
"Thank you for flying Henderson Airways, on behalf of the crew we hope you enjoy your stay," he recited with a slight Texas twang.
After so many years flying commercial airplanes it became an inside joke to use the modified announcement whenever he arrived some place. The rest of his family just groaned hearing him repeat it...again! In response, the back door of the white Ford flew open and out scrambled Jimmy's two children, Alan and Lisa. Alan, eight years old, and his six year old sister both shared many of their fathers traits. They both had shockingly black hair, Alan's cut short like his dad's while Lisa's flowed mid way down her back, they had their father's eyes and they were both exceedingly tall for their age. Steven was excited to see the new arrivals had kids close to his age and when he saw Alan's Star Wars T-shirt and action figures in hand, he knew he was going to be happy to welcome them, but when he saw her, his heart seemed to skip a beat.
Cheryl Henderson appeared at Jimmy's side and gave him a hug around the waist as she surveyed the front of their new home. To say she was petite was an understatement. Cheryl barely reached 5' in her Nike tennis shoes and was less than a hundred pounds soaking wet. Her thick long mane of chestnut hair fell just below her firm round ass. The tight fitting tank top she wore showed off her B cup breasts, which on most women would have been considered small but on her they looked voluptuous. The top also hugged her narrow waist and accentuated the subtle flare of her hips but it was the shorts that highlighted her best assets; her curvaceous legs.
Jimmy and Cheryl met when he was flying for United Airlines and she was a flight attendant. He was 32 at the time and she was 21; it was love at first sight. They were married a year later. Cheryl continued to fly up until she found out she was pregnant with Alan. He was born one month before her 23rd birthday. Lisa followed almost two years to the day after her brother. Jimmy and Cheryl couldn't have been happier. They lived in the house Jimmy had bought near Corpus Christi until his recent promotion and transfer to Los Angeles. He wanted to stay away from the city so they moved into the more rural Orange County town of Irvine. The four bedroom, two story house gave them plenty of room and with the pool and Jacuzzi in the back, it was a nice step up from where they had come from.
Steven's parents, John and Nancy, had joined him at the sidewalk when Jimmy noticed there was an audience to his families arrival.
"Howdy neighbors," he cheerfully waved holding Cheryl tight to his hip.
***
'He's staring at me again,' Cheryl observed with a smile. Looking back at the lean 19 year old as he devoured her body with his eyes. She was amazed at his fascination with her and how it gave her a warm feeling inside. Ever since the day they first met, Cheryl had noticed the lingering stare of their neighbor's son. She had chalked it up to 'puppy love' then but now she could tell there was more going on since he hit puberty. Most women might have thought it rude to be stared at like that, maybe even creeped out by it but Cheryl was enjoying it. She loved having men look at her with desire in their eyes; it gave her a feeling of beauty and empowerment. She needed that, especially now being pregnant and not feeling very attractive in her mind.
Jimmy hadn't paid much attention to her since she found out she was pregnant which was strange considering when pregnant with Alan and Lisa, he couldn't seem to keep his hands off her. They were having sex right up until both children were born. In fact them having sex caused her to go into labor with Lisa. But now; he hadn't touched her in months. 'It must be because he's still angry I got pregnant after he told me he didn't want any more kids after Lisa was born,' Cheryl thought, while mentally seeking other possibilities. She had initially ruled out an affair but now she wasn't sure. She hoped he hadn't found another woman; a younger, prettier woman. She didn't think she could handle that. 'Stop it Cheryl!' she commanded herself, 'He still loves you.' But her resolve seemed to be wavering since the last time she had these feelings.
She focused her attention back on Steven who followed her every move with his unblinking gaze. Smiling she waved, "Howdy neighbor!"
