A lovely neighbour Pt 1

In this year and late last year we have two new owner occupiers on our floor of six apartments. If you can guess why the apartments on each level are numbered 1,2,3,5,6 and 7, well done you.

The newest white family with a snooty older teenager daughter occupants at the front of us reply hello but they don't seem interested in being friendly. I normally welcome new occupants to our level, but for whatever reason, the opportunity to welcome them or have a chat hasn't arisen after four months. They don't pause and I've not been in the lift with them. That's fine. 

Last year at the building's Christmas bash, I met our new neighbour behind us, Ronnie, his wife and teenage daughter. While the teenager daughter is perfunctory, Ronnie is just lovely and his wife is nice.

I work from home, Ronnie proclaimed. Come in any time for coffee. So sweet, but not our style. Such things need to be arranged in advance.  Ray chatted to Ronnie first and when I got to speak to him, he already knew we had worked for the same the company. I was there for forty years, Ronnie maybe five years.

I hadn't seen him for ages but then I've kept running into him. For the past six weeks he had been in Indonesia, dealing with the death of his father and all things associated. As everyone is, he was shocked when I told him about Ray's death. He insisted we exchange phone numbers so that I call him any time if I needed help with anything.

It is rare that I sit inside a cafe and not outside when I have afternoon coffee, but the weather was terrible, with all outdoor seating saturated at the cafe across the road. I sat inside looking out the glass. Ronnie walked past and came inside when he saw me. He joined me for coffee and we had a lovely chat. He is such a nice guy.

Today, Monday 17th, I was again at the cafe. I left and as I was crossing the road, Ronnie had just left a tram after being in town. I was on my way to the bank with a certified copy of Ray's will, so it was a quick chat.

Ronnie must be at least forty years old, but wow, I suddenly realised how hot he is. He is handsome, a snappy dresser with his clothes fitting perfectly. I could see he had bought clothing in town, on his own without wifely assistance. He is stylish, kind, friendly, chatty and caring. The only negative is that he is straight, but I don't discriminate. Straight guys are needed in society to breed more gay men, and I suppose straight men too.