4.26.2006

The Love Boat



For years I've fantasized about writing a collection of short stories centered on the houses/families in our cul-de-sac, each of which sits along a continuum between odd and downright freaky (I won't admit where WE fall). Perched smack in the center of that range, the new kids on the block, a family of five who moved in three years ago. We believe they breed bikes in their backyard, like bunnies. He's always starting and never finishing projects--a storage building that's been framed for a year with no more progress, an old jacuzzi leaning against the chainlink fence. He'll pull out trash (old Little Tykes toys, boxes of forks, laundry baskets, diaper pails, bookshelves) from his garage and leave it piled up for months in the driveway. Then, while we're praying and waiting for him to drag it back in, he'll rent a pressure washer and clean the driveway AROUND the trash!

And today, as I'm getting home from work, this.


Note to Mamoo: So what, we have a pop-up camper? It ain't parked out front.

10 comments:

minus five said...

i would pay you five bucks if you take your kids over to their house and get in that boat and eat dinner and socialize like it's completely normal. i'll give you ten if your neighbors are still in the boat when you do it.

Tania Rochelle said...

Please! It would take more than ten dollars to get me to eat dinner with my kids again.

minus five said...

an even better idea... take some dolls over there and some plastic food and pretend you're all eating dinner together. fifteen dollars if you do it.

Tania Rochelle said...

I will rise to this challenge, Sarah, in my own special way. I'll need a few days.

Stay tuned, girls and boys.

minus five said...

you can't take too long or i won't pay up.

Tania Rochelle said...

I'm only in it for the glory.

Collin Kelley said...

Someone better have a camera when you do climb aboard. We're gonna need some photos, Skipper. :)

Tania Rochelle said...

Oh, like I wouldn't document it.

Anonymous said...

Tania, why sour your neighborhood reputation any further?

Tania Rochelle said...

I'm the crazy lady with all the men (not for years now), all the kids, and all the dogs. Sitting in a boat is no big deal.

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