Neighborly Friendliness Turned Upside-Down.
When I moved into my last place, It was a testing experience. Long long drive across the country, most of it smelly and unshowered. But we made it and while unpacking I noticed one of the neighbors. Only because he was so obviously wanting to be noticed. He came out of his house and put on a light jacket (it was Novemeber) and then looked at the book he was carrying around with him.
How many people go for a walk with something to read?
He pauses to finish some captivating passage, closes the book and
walks down the block. He introduces himself, then I do the same. April
has come back down at that point and gets introduced-- as my wife. Then
in less than two minutes we find out he used to be a chef and a figure
skater, and is retired in his early forties.
Then asks me if I like pineapple upside down cake. No I hadn't, but I was wondering if there was some secret rainbow-powered code in that question. He said he would make me (not "you", as in me and my wife) one of those cakes. Then he left. Right back to his house. The jacket and the book were a presentation as he introduced himself.
He never made the cake, yet said hi to me on a regular basis. When I would drive by him on the street I would think, "where's my fucking cake?". After all he made big deal about it and said he would make me one.
And he would never remember or acknowledge April.
We were out walking a couple weeks ago. He says hi to April. Then asks her who her friend is--meaning me. I then decide to finally call him on his cake.
"You remember me, you promised me a cake."
"Oh yeah, hi. You have a good memory."
Then he walked away. He doesn't even say hi anymore. What a dick.