Short Story-The Neighbour

Jessie got out of her red Honda Civic and closed the door. Fumbling in her large bag for her house keys, she barely noticed the yellow post-it on her door. Holding her bag in her teeth as she unlocked the front door, she read the note.

Hi, I found a black Labrador with a red collar down by the river, is this your dog? Call Justin on 555-5381.

"Oh shit," she said, as she finally got her front door open.

Dropping her bag on the floor, she pulled out her mobile phone and dialed her boyfriends number.

"Hi, it's Robert, leave a message at the beep,".

Silently cursing him Jessie left a message.

"Robert the dog got out again, a man has her, he left us a note. Ring when you get this."

With a sigh, Jessie picked up her bag and went into the living room. Any chance Shannon got to make an escape and run to the river, she took it. Looking again at the post-it, she dialed the number. A man answered on the third ring.

"Hi, my name is Jessie I'm looking to speak to Justin please"

"Speaking,"

"You left a note on my door about my dog?", Jessie asked.

"Oh right, her ID tag had your address. I'm actually busy at the minute but I can drop her over in a half hour."

"That would be great. If it's any inconvenience I can collect her---"

"No no, that's fine see you then." With that Justin hung up the phone.

Jessie made her way into the kitchen to fix herself a coffee and saw a note on the fridge.

Hi Babe, working late tonight, won't be home until after midnight xxxxx.

"Great, thanks a lot Rob," Jessie spoke to herself as she rooted in her wine cupboard for a cheap bottle of wine, for the man who rescued her dog.

She was getting too used to the long evenings spent on her own in their newly bought home. She knew that Robert needed the extra hours to pay his half of the mortgage, but it grated on her all the same.
Finding a bottle of red she won at work in the back of the cupboard, Jessie made a quick cup of coffee, grabbed a book and retired to the porch to wait for her dog.

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About 20 minutes later, a black Volvo pulled up into her drive. A man in a woolen cap and jumper climbed out and opened his trunk. Shannon jumped out and bounded over to where Jessie was standing, waiting to greet her good Samaritan.

"Hi Justin, I'm Jessie, thank you so much for taking care of her. We just moved in and she seems to be able to find different ways to get out of the yard everyday."

"That's no problem. I found her down the end of the river, she was soaking wet and shivering so I brought her home. I have dog too, so she had company." Justin looked resolutely at the dog as he spoke to Jessie.

Jessie thrust the bottle of wine towards Justin, "Please take this, I really do appreciate your help. Do you live around here?"

Justin took the bottle and tucked it under his arm. He glanced quickly at Jessie as they made the exchange but averted his eyes again. Jessie guessed he must be in his early forties but he hadn't shaved and his clothes were anything but modern, so it was hard to tell.

" I live out the road not too far away. Do you live on your own?"

Jessie was taken aback by the bluntness of the question but smiled at Justin to hide her discomfort. "No, my boyfriend and I live here together. He works in the city."

"Ok thanks." Justin turned abruptly on his heel and stalked towards his car.

What a strange man, Jessie thought. His appearance definitely didn't show any evidence of a woman's touch, so maybe his people skills are rusty because he's lonely.

Shannon started jumping up excitedly, interrupting Jessie's' ponderings. Putting her strange new neighbour out of her mind, she brought her dog inside.

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After dinner, Jessie and Shannon retired to the living-room to watch some TV. Jessie lit the fire, pulled her curtains and poured herself a glass of wine. The autumn evening was chilly and dark and Jessie heard the wind begin to howl.......Continue reading