I was walking home late one evening. Truth to tell it was more the middle of the night than late evening. I was just strolling along, minding my own business. Have you ever noticed when you're out in the dark how your eyes tend to seek out any lights that are around? You don't go peering into the dark places (probably because you're afraid of what might be there) but places that are lit up are fair game.
The houses along the street that I lived in didn't follow any particular plan. Most streets the houses tend to all be about the same distance from the road, due to rules and regulations. My street was very old, established before all those rules and regulations and as a result the houses were situated on their blocks where they best suited the original owners. Some were way up the back of the block leaving a very large front yard and some way up the front with a tiny front yard and a very large backyard. Most, of course, were situated in the middle.
The house I was currently passing was owned by the Marcels, a young married couple who'd recently moved in. Carly was in her early twenties, a redhead with green eyes and creamy skin. Scottish ancestry for sure. A very pretty young thing. Neil was a couple of years older than her and okay I guess. I had nothing in common with him and tended to ignore him. He worked nights, I believe.
The reason I mention the Marcels' house was because it was one that was very close to the road. It also had a light on and I'd just naturally glanced towards it. Then I stopped and watched for a while. I wasn't being a peeping tom, sneaking around and looking at things I shouldn't. I was standing on the footpath in plain sight of anyone who glanced in my direction. There was a street-light not too far from where I was so I wasn't even hidden by the dark.
The reason I'm explaining this is Carly. The light I'd glanced at was the bedroom light shining through the window. No curtains or blinds to obstruct the view and I was only a few feet away from that window. On the other side of that window Carly was casually undressing. Perhaps she'd just forgotten to pull the blind. Perhaps she assumed that no-one would be passing this late at night. (The road wasn't exactly a hive of activity at the busiest times.)
Whatever the reason Carly casually stripped and I had an excellent view of the proceedings. How well could I see? Well enough to see that the carpet matched the drapes, as they say, although in this case the carpet was a nicely trimmed little landing strip. As I watched she pulled on a pair of panties and a nightie, walked over to the door, and the light went out. Presumably she then climbed into bed.
I'd been moving on the instant the light went out so if Carly looked out the window she'd have seen me passing by. Would she stop and wonder if I'd been watching or would the thought never cross her mind? It wasn't as though I'd talk about it.
Subsequent nights when I'd had occasion to be out late I noticed that the bedroom blind was always down. I idly wondered why but didn't bother putting any real thought into it. It was just one of those pleasant little incidents that happen and now it was over.
I was doing some gardening on the weekend, trimming my bushes, when Carly came past. Well, she was going to go past, but she stopped when she saw me and gave me a killer look. There was so much ice in her look I almost expected the bush I was trimming to expire from frostbite.
"It was you, wasn't it!" she snapped. Not a question but a statement.
"Excuse me but what was me?"
"You were peeping at me the other night when I got changed. Don't deny it. I saw you. And you were limping so I know it was you."
(I'd been limping because I'd injured my knee and was having to do specific exercise to help build it up again, walking being one of those exercises.)
I thought about flatly denying it, claiming I had no idea what she was talking about. Second thoughts said what the hell, you did nothing wrong. Not my fault if she was an idiot.
"If you mean it was me who happened to be passing by when you stripped off with the blinds up and the lights on then I have to admit it was. Might I say that I stopped and watched the entire show and you have a marvellous body?"
"You have the gall to admit it?" It seemed to me that she wanted to shriek at me but was controlling herself with grim determination.
"Um, yes. I loved the furry little landing strip. Exactly matches the colour of your hair which is a bit unusual. Normally one's somewhat lighter than the other."
She just stood there, spluttering for a few moments, wanting to let me have it with both barrels but not finding the right words to say.
"You had no right," she finally managed to get out, still glaring at me.
"I had every right," I protested. "You were putting on a public performance and it would have been rude for me not to watch and applaud. As a matter of fact I'd pay good money for a repeat performance. Ah, in a slightly more private setting, of course."
She blushed at that, turned on her heel and stalked off in high dudgeon. I returned to my gardening, smiling.
I was just finishing up the gardening an hour or so later when I saw Carly returning. She started walking slower as she neared me and she had a thoughtful look on her face. She stopped when she reached me.
"How much?" she asked.
What? I blinked and then I caught on. I'd said I'd pay good money for a repeat and she was curious. I told her what I though was something reasonable, assuming that she wouldn't have a bar of it. It turned out that she would, with reservations.
