The New Neighbor

He slipped his coat off as he walked through the kitchen and hung it on the coat rack in the hall. He could hear the television in the living room, the volume unusually low, and he stepped in to find Jen stretched out on the floor, sound asleep in front of a Cosby rerun. Kneeling beside her, he woke her gently and she smiled up at him.

'Hi, Dad.'

'Hey, kiddo. Where is everybody.'

'Sick.'

'What?'

'Mom and Robby. I think they've got the flu. They're both in bed asleep.'

'Have you eaten?'

'I made a sandwich. How was your day?'

'Not so good. Things are kind of tense at work right now. How about you?'

'Oh – “ She shrugged. ' – same as usual.'

'Do you have any homework?'

'I always have homework.'

'Well, if you want any help, let me know.' He started building a fire in the fireplace. 'You sure you don't want anything more to eat, Jen?'

'Nope. I'm not hungry.'

It was not like Karen to go to bed without feeding anyone. She must have felt pretty bad.

Once he had the fire burning, George went to the bedroom to check on Karen. She was curled up in bed. The closet light was on, but the door was only open a crack. Light fell on her puffy face and gave her skin a white pallor.

No, she did not look well at all.

George turned off the light and closed the door on his way out, then went to Robby's room.

'Hey, Dad,' Robby croaked. He was just waking up, sitting on the edge of his bed with his face in his hands.

'How're you feeling?' George sat beside him and put his arm around the boy.

'Better. I think.'

'You look better. You were pretty ugly this morning. Think it was the flu?'

'Prob'ly.'

'Or did you just wear yourself out at Miss Dupree's last night?' He laughed and squeezed Robby's shoulder.

A look fell over Robby's face for an instant, then was gone – a look of slack-jawed horror so strong that, although brief, it made George flinch inwardly.

“Uh, we just, y’know, moved furniture, and stuff,' Robby said. 'She made dinner, but I wasn't very hungry. Guess it was the flu coming on.'

'Yeah. Probably.' George watched him a moment, waiting for another sign of that fearful look -

– Guilt, he thought, that's what it looked like -

– but it never came. 'Must be the flu,' he said, 'because your mom's got it, now. She's in bed.'

Robby rubbed his stomach and said, 'I'm hungry. Anything for dinner?'

'I was gonna go to Carl's, Jr. and get a burger. Mom didn't cook anything. Want me to get something for you?'

He shrugged. 'A burger. Some fries.'

'Sure you can take it? You still don't look so great.'

'Yeah. I think so.'

'Okay, a burger and fries it is. Be back in a while.'

On his way out, George asked Jen if she wanted to go along, but she was more interested in the TV.

* * * *

A moment before his dad had come into the room, Robby had awakened from a long murky dream. He felt hungover, drained, and it didn’t feel like the flu. After Dad left, he still felt foggy and parts of his body still ached. It was dark outside his windows and that only added to his feeling of disorientation. Once again, he found himself going over the previous night in his mind.

If being with Lorelle Dupree was going to screw him up this much every time, he decided he would rather go behind the gymnasium with Janine Flugel and engage in a little frustrating groping and fondling. At least his schoolwork wouldn't suffer and he wouldn't feel so wiped out. And so… guilty.

So dirty, he thought.

He put on his underwear and robe and went to the living room to watch some television. Jen was watching Cosby.

'Turn it to channel two,' he said, falling onto the sofa.

'Why?'

'The Simpsons is on.'

'So what?'

'I wanna watch it, that's so what.'

“I was gonna turn it to Entertainment Tonight.”

“Entertainment Tonight sucks.”

'Oh, c'mon Robby, you always watch The Simpsons. You've seen all the reruns twice. I never get to watch Entertainment Tonight.'

'Go ahead,' he growled, 'rot your brain. See if I care.'

Jen changed the channel, said 'Thanks,' and gave him a kiss on the cheek as she left the living room. She came back with a Pepsi and sat down in front of the TV again. 'Mom's sick, you know.'

'Yeah, I know.'

'Just like you.'

'Yeah, I know.'

Still staring at the television, she said, 'She went to see Miss Dupree today. For a visit.'

'Look, if you're gonna watch that stupid show, just watch it, okay? Otherwise, turn it to two.'

Robby pulled the afghan from the back of the sofa and curled up beneath it, feeling achy, and Jen said nothing more.

* * * *

Jen sat Indian-style in front of the television as Robby's breathing grew slower and more rhythmic. She had difficulty paying attention to Entertainment Tonight and although she watched the screen, her mind wandered. Next thing she knew, the show was over and a half hour had passed in what seemed like a heartbeat.

She heard Dad's car pull up in the driveway and went to the door to greet him, but she heard voices outside. Dad was talking to someone. A woman.

He came in a few moments later and handed her a Carl's, Jr. bag that smelled of Western Bacon Cheeseburgers and fries and said, 'Here, honey, give this to Robby. I'll be right back.'

'Where you going?'

'There's something wrong with Miss Dupree's car and it's starting to rain. I'm going to see if I can help her before she gets soaked. There's something in that bag for you, in case you decide you're hungry.' He hurried out the door.

Jen went back to the living room and put the bag on the coffee table; Robby was sound asleep on the sofa and she decided a hamburger wasn't enough reason to wake him. She crept around the sofa to the front window and parted the curtains slightly to peer outside.