The New Neighbor

By the time the first orgasm made him convulse like an epileptic having a seizure, Robby had completely forgotten the stranger's warning, and even the stranger himself.

* * * *

Jen was curled up on the sofa with a textbook open beside her and the telephone receiver pressed tightly to her ear. She wore an excited smile and hugged her knees, rocking back and forth on the cushion with one fist clenched.

She was excited because Woody Gibson was on the phone and wanted her to go out with him that night. Her fist was clenched because she couldn't afford the time with so much homework to do.

'I thought you might wanna see a movie,' Woody continued. 'And we can get something to eat, too, if you want. Like, at Harry's Diner, maybe?'

'Jeez, Woody, I'd love to, I mean, I really would,” she said, thinking, You have no idea how much I want to get out of this tomb. 'But I've got… well, I know this is gonna sound stupid, but… I've gotta study. See, there's a history test tomorrow and if I don't study for it all evening I'm gonna – “

'History?' There was a smile in his voice. 'With Mr. Lee?'

“Uh-huh.'

'Well, I can help you with that.'

'You can?'

'Sure. I was in – “

Jen pulled the receiver away from her ear when she heard a sound. At first, she thought her mom had gotten out of bed and was coming down the hall, but the hall was empty.

“ – member that I'm a year ahead of you. I took all of Lee’s tests and he's so predictable I could – “

She heard it again, lowered the receiver and frowned. It was a soft, dry scratching sound.

'Can you hang on a sec, Woody?' she asked, then set the receiver down and stood.

She'd been jumpy lately. Things were very strange in her house and she didn't understand why – everyone was acting differently, walking around with long, pale faces, saying nothing, quick to anger and slow to apologize, if they apologized at all. So she was sure the sound was nothing and she was simply overreacting.

The third time she heard it, she realized it was coming from the front door. She went to the door, locked it and asked, 'Who is it?'

The only response was a soft whine.

She opened the door a crack and saw one of Miss Dupree's dogs on the porch. Jen quickly opened the door, weak with relief, and said, 'Sodom! What are you doing here?'

The dog stood and pressed his head to Jen's thigh.

'Did you get locked out?' She wrapped her arms around his furry neck and gave Sodom a hug as he licked her cheek, then he turned and started down the walk. 'Where you going?'

The dog stopped and turned to her, waited a moment, then walked back up the steps and licked her hand. Turning, he went all the way to the sidewalk, then looked at her again and uttered a brief, quiet bark.

He wants me to come with him! Jen thought with a laugh. She hurried inside and grabbed the receiver. 'Woody? Can I call you right back? It'll just be a couple of minutes, I promise. 'Kay?'

'Sure.'

She got her coat, then followed Sodom across the street to Miss Dupree's house.

The dog stopped on the porch and looked back to make sure she was there, then lifted a paw and scratched at the front door. It swung open.

'Oh, the door wasn't shut,' Jen said, going in. 'So that's how you got out.' She closed the door and looked around for Miss Dupree. 'Hello? Miss Dupree?' No one responded, and Jen stepped into the living room where Gomorrah met her with a toothy canine grin.

Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the black sculpture in the corner. A rush of heat filled her cheeks and she stared open-mouthed at it for a moment; then, feeling embarrassed and guilty, she turned away, cleared her throat and called, 'Miss Dupree? It's Jen. From across the street?'

Still no answer.

But there was a sound.

It came from down the hall.

Reluctantly, Jen followed the rhythmic thumping sound down the hall, flanked by Sodom and Gomorrah. The sound was coming from a room at the end of the hall. The door was open a few inches and Jen lifted a hand to knock, took a breath to call out again, but -

– she heard a long throaty moan and froze. She slapped a hand over her mouth and breathed, 'Ooohh, shit' into her palm.

Miss Dupree was in bed with someone.

Jen's face grew hot and she felt the same chest-tightening feeling of dirty, forbidden excitement that she'd felt the day she'd watched Robby masturbating.

Then there was silence, except for the whisper of slow movement.

Sodom and Gomorrah sat side by side in the hall behind her.

Hand trembling, Jen pushed the door open a little further, leaned forward and peered into the room.

The shades were drawn and no lights were on, but in the murky room, Jen could make out the figure of Miss Dupree sitting up on a bed. She was naked and leaning over someone who lay still beside her. Miss Dupree's long hair spilled over the body beside her and her hand was… it was…

Jen pressed her lips together to hold in her abrupt gasp.

The man lying on the bed was also naked and Miss Dupree's hand was wrapped around his -

– thing, Jen thought, his thing -

– penis and she was doing to it exactly what Jen had seen Robby doing to his six years ago. Her hand and the penis glistened wetly in the darkness.

Jen's own breathing changed as she watched the gentle way Miss Dupree moved her hand on the erect cock. Jen swallowed hard, told herself she should go. She was about to back away from the door when -

– Miss Dupree looked up and said, 'Hello, Jen.'

She did not silence her gasp this time. 'Oh! I-I'm sorry, Muh-Miss Dupree, really, I'm vuh-very sorry. I was just – Sodom came over and – I brought him back and – “

“It's okay, Jen, don’t apologize,' Miss Dupree said with a quiet laugh as she got off the bed and put on a black robe that flowed around her body like liquid darkness.

Jen could not keep herself from turning to the bed again; she watched the man's erection slowly shrink and droop to the side until it was resting on his thigh.

Miss Dupree led her out of the bedroom and quietly closed the door, put her hands on Jen's shoulders and whispered, 'Don't be embarrassed, Jen. Really.'

But she was. Her face was burning and she wanted to shrivel up and die. 'I didn't mean to sneak in,' she said. 'Sodom was at our door and I followed him over here and there was nobody around. I called for you, but – “

'It's okay, sweetie, don't worry about it.'

'I'll go now.'

'No-no-no.' Miss Dupree toyed with Jen's hair, brushing it from her eyes and pushing it back over the ears as she spoke. 'Remember when I said yesterday that we might be able to do something that would get Robby to pay more attention to you?'

Jen nodded.

'Well, I think we can. Right now.'

'How?'

'First of all, you have to promise me you'll do exactly as I say. And you have to promise that it will be our secret. Just between us. You won't tell you parents or any of your friends. Anyone. Okay?'