Summer Shorts Read online

  ***

  A few days later the Musevary Towers Neighborhood Watch were seated at their usual tables in Cleo’s, their local coffee shop. There was Charles and Benedict as usual, with the large and bubbly Mary Paddock and the tall and skinny Christina Carr, who was sitting primly at the end of the table, flicking back her long black hair while she look around for service. As regulars they had become accustomed to the attentive service of Jan, who today seemed more preoccupied with her new boyfriend as they chatted at the coffee bar.

  “Shouldn’t he be working?” Christina complained, indicating Jan’s new young man, who happened to be concierge of the residential block in which they lived.

  “Oh, leave them alone Chris,” Mary scolded, “I think they make a lovely couple, did you see how she swept him up off his feet when he came in?”

  Benedict got up to order their usual drinks while Charles started the meeting. By the time Benedict had returned with four coffees on a small round plastic tray the topic of conversation had already turned to Henry and his milk bottles.

  “If you ask me, I bet it’s that creepy man that is always skulking around the corridors,” Christina said as Benedict set the tray down on one of the three tables they were occupying between them.

  “Oh not this thing you have with Guy Matthews again,” he said with some irritation. “Please leave the poor man alone Christina, he’s obviously got some issues but I don’t think he goes round breaking milk bottles.”

  “Well,” she replied curtly, “I just don’t like him.”

  "I spoke to him once," Mary chipped in.

  "Did you?" Benedict said excitedly. He couldn't help himself, as Guy had always tended to keep himself to himself and avoid contact with his neighbors. “What did he say?

  "He just said ‘Leave me alone’," Mary answered.