I have a good friend who lives right next door to me. We both work full-time and have 3 girls and life is crazy busy. Not surprisingly, we don't see each other much. Often times our "visits" are greetings yelled from driveway to driveway as we are cramming our children into car seats and zooming off to the next activity or errand on the list. I realized the other day that the last time I had any contact with her was Christmas morning when I called to borrow space-heaters. It has been even longer since I have actually SEEN her. I honestly don't remember the last time I saw her. I do know there is life at her house. I have seen her husband in and out of the garage and have found myself beside him--both of us at the ends of our driveways shoveling in sync.
So a couple of days ago my mind began to wonder through those spaces that often take me by surprise. It dawned on me that the community neighbor on the news that is awkwardly interviewed outside the house of the family that has been "off-ed" is often heard saying things like, "I just don't know what to think...he was always such a nice guy, I can't believe he could do something like this..." When I was a young teenager living in central Illinois, a perfectly benign man with a typical family in a middle class neighborhood was charged and found guilty of murdering his wife a children in my hometown. The neighbors were in shock--could not believe the loving father was capable of such horror (and it was horror). So here I am, pulling into my driveway giving the polite wave and nod as I pass my friend's husband and I am ACTUALLY wondering if he could ever be capable of killing his wife and kids and burying them somewhere in the middle of a wooded area. Of course I don't BELIEVE that this is the reason I have not seen my friend. But I am stunned that I find myself actually entertaining this notion.
Given my strange train of thought, I have found myself looking at the house as I drive by, searching for some sign of the chaos associated with 3 young children and no free time. Nothing. No lights. No movement. Tonight, I arrived home at about 7:00. Before my children figured out I was home, I shut the car door quietly and walked over to the neighbor's house. My plan was to say a quick hello and amuse her with the inanity of the idea that her absence had led to my wondering about her husband's possible criminal behavior. As I was approaching the steps to the front porch it ocurred to me that she may not answer, but he might. What do you say?, "Hey there neighbor, haven't seen your wife and kids lately, did you knock 'em off and unload them somewhere in Iowa?" No, but seriously, I knew what I was going to say to her, but what would my lame excuse be for ringing the bell at the outset of the bath-time bed-time ritual? Obviously I have little pride because I stepped onto the porch, saw light emanating from kitchen, and rang the bell. Nothing. I waited for about 20-30 seconds, and stepped away.
As I walked back over to my house, I realized that I may have just dodged a bullet. I guess I will get my confirmation that my neighbor is NOT a hidden psychopath on another day. I'll keep you posted.
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SHE'S ALIVE and her husband is the wonderful nice man I have always known him to be!
ReplyDeleteI talked with my neighbor and we laughed about the explanation for her absence that my mind had conjured up. She did, however, point out that she would have to be stuffed in a freezer somewhere because the ground is frozen making a late-night burial a bit challenging.