My wife is gone. I've been alone for years now. I work and come home. Nothing happens. My only real pleasure is Judy. She lives across the street. She's divorced and has zero interest in me. That's what I like about her. She has remote blond hair and emanates an infinite inaccessible love. I have little hope of ever making her mine, but maybe that's the point. What else is there to say of her? She has heart-shaped hips, caustic, incendiary eyes, and most of the time she's angry and bothered and is never happy to see me unless she is borrowing my leaf blower. She is the president of our homeowners association, though, so to be near her, I volunteer as the sergeant at arms for our monthly meetings. It's only an honorary position. I don't really have any authority. Still, I live for our monthly homeowners meetings. No one asks me to, but I like to create little appetizers and pass them around. The day before also leaves me time for working on my anxiety and maybe choosing something to wear.
Anyway, three pigs purchased the three lots next to my home. What are the odds? Each bought their own undeveloped lot. The association members didn't approve of the idea of pigs moving into the neighborhood, which I can understand. They didn't come right out and say it, but you just know when you know. I have nothing against pigs myself. My philosophy is live and let live, laissez faire. Grass is always greener. A friend in need. Things like that. Yes, there was an antipathy toward the pigs from the very beginning, but here's the deal—and it's just like my dad once told me—you give 'em a fair shake: men, women, children, even animals. You give them your trust and see if they take it away. Most of the time it'll surprise you the way they'll measure up. And that's the way I felt when the pigs arrived, though along with everyone else, I wondered what kinds of houses they would build. Just as worrisome was the very fundamental, self-reflecting question of what kind of people have pigs as neighbors?
How, we collectively wondered, would we ourselves be judged? And what next? Sheep, goats, cows, armadillos, all wanting to live next door? Our kids and theirs going to the same schools?
No comments:
Post a Comment