Brutally Honest: 10 - Neighbours
My recollections of growing up in and around my neighbourhood are vivid and strong. So many memorable characters, so much (mostly mischievous) fun that we all got up too. It's makes for a time of my life I'd never want to change in any way whatsoever. But one of the highest ranking reminiscences that’ll always stick with me for as long as I live, has to be my neighbours located to my direct left. Actually, the ones on my right were pretty darn strange too, but that’s a story for another time…
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You guys ever seen that movie, Monster House? Where this rickety, spooky ass house seemed to cast an evil finger over the entire street? Well, the next door house "I’m" now referring to ain’t far off. This place was a ghastly horror show and I’m talking just from the outside. Windows all stained with rotted wooden frames encasing it. Paint peeling off over each separate panel. And what looked like a set of filthy, dust-ridden netted curtains concealing whatever inner contents existed within. If ever there was a haunted house, this would be the perfect candidate. And all that kept the demonic infestation at bay from entering my own home, was but a single brick partition. After all, all the houses on my street were terraced. Man, the shivers I’d get just imagining what devilish fears lurked over on the other side of the divide. But everybody knew of at least three of the occupants. A mother, her son and daughter, as well as legions of rats and cockroaches. Well, I’m not sure about that last part, but it sounds about right.
The small trio living there were perfectly suited for this dishevelled residence. As the fact of the matter is they were, in a word, crazy! I knew them to be the sole inhabitants of that house for as long as I could remember. So, in a way, I was used to "hearing" some of the insane shit that used to go on behind closed doors. I will never forget the first time my wife-to-be at the time, @rea, first saw the "son". He wore a tattered old suit, musty and torn at the seams, finished up by wearing a bright yellow banana peel on his head. Yes, you heard me right. Though a shocking freak who regularly forced people to cross the road in his presence, he was harmless enough. I think so, anyways. His name was Aubrey and an old habit of hard class A drugs had tipped him over the edge. He stumbled through life, barely able to contemplate what planet he was living on.
His older, yet just as cuckoo, sister Patricia, was some sort of religious cult fanatic. The people on our road would watch as she paced up and down the pathway to the entrance of their house, waving her clasped hands in the air and reciting something akin to “prayers” under her breath. It was a most disturbing sight, at the very least. Though she, too, appeared harmless. Whereas Aubrey had all but lost the art of communicating with others altogether, she was the exact opposite. I’d hear her from the window of our downstairs lounge, shrilling to some poor soul on the road about the importance of protecting the world from itself. How secret concentrations of groups roam within our society, waiting for their chance to overthrow the government and enslave us all. In case you were wondering, she’d lost the plot too and her nonsensical ramblings caused others to attempt to steer well clear of her.
Finally, the mother. Creator of these two broken oddities of our otherwise sleepy suburb. This may sound hard to believe, but I swear this as God’s honest truth. During the many years I’d seen her “rare” appearances out in the open, never once did I hear her speak. I knew she did as the older set of locas in our area confirmed they had spoken to her many decades ago, but not anymore. Not for years now. They had this large bushy hedge circling the main compound of their house. On days when the sun would shine at it’s brightest, she’d emerge with a pair of garden shears held in both hands. Most of the afternoon would be spent snipping away at the few scant leaves that happened to catch her blades. Though, on the few occasions I actually observed her from the relative safety of my window above, most of her cutting technique involved snapping haphazardly at mid-air. Yes, she was barbering the hedge inflicting hardly any contact upon it! So, several hours later, a faint outline of thick green leaves lay scattered on the floor. Nothing really given all the effort she’d put into it. I found the three of them oh-so-creepy. How I wished they’d move. But people like that find a way to endure. And that they did, for many years to come...
This was a short prerequisite to a few upcoming stories you need to hear. The level of crazy is astounding, but all very true. However, as eerie as I found them when they lived next door, it actually helped shape my childhood and adolescence into what it is today. Anyone who knows me on here is well aware I love “horror movies”. Though part of that is deep-seated in my intrigue concerning that grotesque house. What lurked behind those walls, encapsulating a true definition of pure madness? It scared the absolute hell out of me, as I did dream a few nights of waking up in one of the accursed rooms, pitch dark and nowhere to run. Chills me to this very day, I tell you. So, prepare yourself for what actually happened to the insane family that were my neighbours from hell.
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Interesting .. Beautiful
Thanks for the story. You have a beautiful style well done
Great post .
This story make me remember season 2 of Channel Zero. Have you ever watched that series? (its an anthology so each season is a different story)
In my case I didn't have weird neighbors although believe it or not, I wish I had. I have always been a fan of horror as well, and having this type of weird experiences is something I have always wanted
It's crazy to say, but I totally understand what you mean. Having this "isolated" family living next door whilst growing up, was almost an adventure in itself. The mystery of what you "think" lies within the bowels of their abode. As I said in the post, I wouldn#t have changed a thing. :)
(p.s. I will be checking out "Channel Zero", sounds awesome.) :)
Oh man, I'm now thinking that this family has been an integral part of how well you write horror stories, buddy.
I mean, with THEM next door how your mind worked any number of scenarios that could be happening there. Stories that you have written down here on Steemit previously.
Now I know the secret! :D
You've hit the nail on the head, buddy! In fact, I already wrote a couple of stories here on Steemit, based on my innate fears of that isolated house next door. Prime suspect being my short, 23 Minutes.
So, yes, the secret is out! Hell, I owe them so much! :)
Your writing really impressed me. Seeing Your creativity in your writing really surprised me. Thank you very much for sharing with us.
Thanks very much! But all stemming from my own personal memories, it just seemed to flow! :)
I don't know what you're on about, they sound like the perfect neighbours :P
hahah looking forward to your horror stories to come (after doing some catching up on your series!) :D
Lol, the sheer amount of "weirdness" emanating from that house over the years. It was very disconcerting, to put it mildly.
Thank you so much for dropping by! :)
I can bet the next part of the story will be about you being inside the house held as a hostage.lol
At least you had interesting stories going on with your neighbor. It’s always refreshing having this kind of “horror movie”type family as a neighbor.
I’m anxious to read what’s next.
Lol, as explosive as your story-line would have been, it sadly never transpired. However, the few strange occurrences that I "did" witness, will be documented here for sure.
Thanks very much, buddy. :)
Son Aubrey wore a tattered old suit, shocking freak barely able to contemplate what planet he was living on.
His older sister Patricia yet just as cuckoo, was some sort of religious cult fanatic.
Mother, creator of these two broken oddities never spoke to anyone.
This tells me the trouble is on the way.
I love those three already.lol
After reading back on my descriptions in your comment, I tell you. That was them "to a tee"! Maximum spook factor but again, I promise you, nobody could have ever imagined where this led.
Thank you, bud. :)
Beautiful story writing....... @ezzy. You like to watching movies, Excellent. I could not watch Monster House. But now large wish to watching this movies. As like you I love to "horror movies”. Great sharing. Thanks a lot.........
Great post, Monster House was good.