The Sigma Asset 🏳️‍🌈 (bxb)║AMBYS WINNER 2022

10: Neighbors

The neighbors were half an hour early. Their sudden arrival meant that I didn't have time to summon a smiley game-face, and they'd probably conclude that I was a miserable burden on Will. On the other hand, it meant I wouldn't have to sit on the back porch resisting the urge to bake up for another half hour. Will hadn't apparently heard the doorbell, so I went to open the door.

"Oh. Hi," said a startled-looking woman, glamorous in a pale pink vest and matching yoga pants and sweater.

The older woman I'd seen before followed behind, in a slightly less glamorous oversized beer T-shirt and yoga pants. A man in his sixties brought up the rear. I recognized him by his international orange windbreaker as the man who had taken out a skiff earlier.

The younger woman leaped toward Will as he hurried out of the kitchen, giving him a bearhug that he weathered patiently, like he was totally expecting it but would never get used to it. "Will! We missed you! When's Mozhgan coming? So glad you weren't here in the storm last week! Santa Maria! Mama said that you're back for good!" She pounced on Will again who peeked out at us from between well-ironed hair extensions until she released him.

"No, mi amor, I said that Mozhgan won't be back for a few weeks," the older woman corrected. Both women began talking at Will frantically while Will smiled away with what looked like long-practiced patience, his eyes occasionally darting to the man who chuckled, perhaps a recurring joke between them. Eventually the women's prattling stopped and Will turned to me, eyebrows working as he figured out how to introduce me.

"Hi, I'm Zephyr," I said, holding my hand out to the older lady.

"Lovely to meet you, Zephyr, I'm Gloria." Gloria shook my hand warmly. "This is my husband, Clive, and our daughter, Julia[1]."

Julia took my hand. "Just call me Jules," she said, her eyes landing on Will's hoodie, which had returned to me from the laundry.

"Nice to meet you all. I think I saw you today, Clive. On the jetty, going for a trip in your skiff."

"I was! You're welcome to come out in it any time. Will said you're only here for a few days? We should go to Pelican Island before you leave."

We used to do trips along the river in Halbae's skiff. Nuna had eventually grown out of it but I'd always asked Halbae to take me. "I'd really like that, thanks. My Grandpa had a similar sized skiff back home."

"Well, then you can be Captain when we go out." Clive gave me the widest smile, as if his next suggestion might be to abort lunch, run to the jetty and climb aboard. "What engine did your Grandpa have?" he asked, eyebrows raising in anticipation of whatever of Halbae's outboard motor specifications I could dredge up from the dusty shelves on my brain.

"Nothing special, really. It was just an LK two-cylinder electric. I can't remember the horse-power."

"Dad, he's not a ten-year-old, he doesn't want to go out in your dirty boat," whined Jules.

"Don't start him on boat-talk, cariño[2]. Trust me," Gloria warned. "He'll talk your ear off!"

"Gloria, the boy's name is Zephyr. Of course he wants to talk boats!" Clive waved his arms in my direction, as if my fake-ass name was proof that I was born of sea-foam. 

"I don't think that it works like that, mi amor," tittered Gloria, exchanging an exasperated look with Jules. Clive just nodded at me sagely, seemingly happy with his impeccable logic. I nodded back with an equally solemn expression, which drew a chuckle from Clive - our first private joke. Will watched my secret exchange with Clive with a shy smile.

"Smells delicious, Will. What is it today? Squirrel on toast? Some nice bison on a bed of rice?" Clive bellowed with laughter, Will chuckling along wearily, as if suffering endless jokes about meat was a worthwhile vegan sacrifice for Clive's friendship.