نگهبان محله

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

HIS MOM’S SCHEDULE

6:35 AM - Arrives on porch with a steaming cup of something hot. Coffee?

6:36 AM - Stares off into empty lot across the way while sipping her drink. Tea?

7:00 AM - Reenters the house.

7:15 AM - Back on porch. Kisses husband good-bye. Watches as his car drives away.

9:30 AM - Gardens. Looks for, finds, and discards cigarette butts.

1:00 PM - Leaves house in car. Errands?

5:00 PM - Pleads with Kara and Olly to begin chores “before your father gets home.”

KARA’S (SISTER) SCHEDULE 10:00 AM - Stomps outside wearing black boots and a fuzzy brown bathrobe.

10:01 AM - Checks cell phone messages. She gets a lot of messages.

10:06 AM - Smokes three cigarettes in the garden between our two houses.

10:20 AM - Digs a hole with the toe of her boots and buries cigarette carcasses.

10:25 AM–5:00 PM - Texts or talks on the phone.

5:25 PM - Chores.

HIS DAD’S SCHEDULE

7:15 AM - Leaves for work.

6:00 PM - Arrives home from work.

6:20 PM - Sits on porch with drink 1.

6:30 PM - Reenters the house for dinner.

7:00 PM - Back on porch with drink 2.

7:25 PM - Drink 3.

7:45 PM - Yelling at family begins.

10:35 PM - Yelling at family subsides.

OLLY’S SCHEDULE

Unpredictable.