I’m writing another story using words which were the answers to an Octordle, an on-line word puzzle where you have to work out eight words in thirteen words. The words I had to include are at the end.
The amount of trouble which is caused by a fence – or maybe a hedge, or maybe a line of wire strung between concrete posts, in fact any way of marking or separating someone’s land from another’s.
We moved into our new house as soon as it was completed, in fact the plaster was still somewhat damp; we had a few issues with the heating which didn’t work as it should and also some radiators which leaked. And then a few more problems. I got used to the builders sending people to fix whatever it was and them saying, either it was more than their job’s worth to do what I asked in the way I wanted it, to them saying they hadn’t got the right screw, nail, rivet, whatever for the job. I admit I was becoming somewhat on edge, a teeny bit tense about the heating/lighting/water/guttering/drains etc. for a few weeks, until we got used to our lovely home and all its idiosyncrasies.
When we moved onto the estate, there was a family already living on one side of us, mum, dad and three kids and boy, were we glad! The day we arrived, Sandy the mum popped round to ask if we wanted to have dinner with them rather than cook, which we gratefully did, and Jack, the dad proved himself a man of strength enough to manoeuvre the most awkward piece of furniture, and was a painter and decorator who would help us, or get us paint etc. at a discount. Jack was a canny man and the perfect neighbour, and a beer drinker who guided us to the best local where we soon made ourselves at home. Over those first few weeks Jack and Sandy were, between them, a pair of towers of strength. If Jack looked at something – wiring for example, and said, ‘I wouldn’t have done that like that, too dicey,‘ I knew to get in touch with the builders straight away to come and fix it.
All was so well, until the house next to us was completed and a couple moved in who we discovered were Terrance and Fanny. Having been so fortunate when we moved in having helpful lovely neighbours, we resolved to be similar to the new arrivals. We went round as soon as the furniture vans had departed and knocked on the door. We didn’t bring flowers or an apple pie or anything like that, just us to say hello and introduce ourselves. The door opened a few seconds after our knock and a big bloke with a massive beard shaped like a spade, stood staring at us – and I couldn’t help but feel a definitely unfriendly vibe flowing towards us.
Yes, he said, and I made my little friendly introduction. He said nothing, just continued to stare, and I bleated out a few more words, and when he said, OK as if I’d thrown down a challenge, I said something like we were pleased to meet them, and for them to knock on our door if they needed anything. As we turned to leave I heard a voice, asking something which I couldn’t make out, and noticed a woman staring at us from the front room window. As the door shut firmly on us I heard the man say something about ‘the usual nosey neighbours.’ Not a promising start.
beard, dicey, fanny, rivet, fence, canny, tense, nosey
Part 2 tomorrow, with another set of words!
Lois Elsden 