Wallets

The neighbour on the other side advised waiting five years,
if the new arrivals are still in residence
say hello
good advice, and backed by experience
she had lived in the same house for 49 years
but not valid in this case.

The did become neighbour introduced herself first,
coming around pre-purchase ostensibly to check fences,
but really us.

Perhaps embarrassed about her effrontery or
subterfuge
she said she was on her own.
“On my own” – she didn’t actually specify
or say, separated, divorced, estranged
but said she had  had a son
so we figured he must’ve been some sort of relationship, at some time.

One day when weeding the garden
directly beneath the fence
I heard the materialism of a teenager
wanting and wishing out loud –
then
“ask your father.”