The Neighbors are Different by John Argo - Science Fiction Clocktower Books

= THE NEIGHBORS ARE DIFFERENT =

a science fiction short story

by John Argo

"She's doing great," Steve said with gusto. "Don't eat too much, now. Your stomach won't like you."

"Oh, okay." Charlie obediently put his fork down.

Steve sat back. "Glass of wine?"

"No thanks," Charlie said, "I don't drink."

The clock ticked. Marie was silent. The house rustled. Somewhere, water plash, plashed. The pool, Charlie thought, with its occupants. Before Charlie could ask what kind of fish were in the pool, Steve sat back and asked: "Did Marie tell you about us?"

Charlie's face got heavy with shame. "No."

Steve laughed. "It's okay, Charlie, we're just a little different, but we're nice family people. I'm sure you understand. You're different too, aren't you?"

Charlie nodded.

"Come on," Steve said, "we're almost ready." He rose and held out his hand. Charlie did not want to take it at first. Steve ignored the rebuff and led him by the hand down a hall, to a bedroom near the patio. It smelled there of the pool, or of the sea, or was it just chlorine in the laundry room? "Do you mind, Charlie?" Steve started taking off his clothes. He'd left the door open, as a sign to Charlie that he was free to go if he chose.

"No," Charlie said bravely. Charlie started to unzip his trousers, then looked outside. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all," Steve said.

Charlie closed and locked the door. "I'm new at this."

"I know," Steve said. "Marie will be between us. I won't touch you."

Charlie let out a sigh of relief. He fairly jumped out of his clothes. The vision of Marie's freckles was seared in his mind's eye. Naked, shivering, for the bedroom floor was of ceramic tile, he let Steve direct him. So this was how it was done. The Comptons had, tipped straight upright against the wall, a king-size bed. The mattress was covered by fresh sheets still stiff from the wash. "I won't hurt you," Steve said. Charlie stood with his back against the bed while Steve took soft white lengths of linen and tied first one of Charlie's wrists, then the other, to the bed frame above, and his ankles to the bed frame below. "Can you wiggle okay? Does it hurt?" Steve murmured solicitously.

"Yes. No." Charlie replied, thinking of Marie's freckles.

Steve shut the windows, cutting out all sound from outside. In the silence, Charlie heard a groan, a low drawn-out sound that could not possibly be from a human throat.

Steve said: "I'll be right here, tied up just like you." He pointed to the other side of the bed about five feet away. Charlie nodded, and could hardly wait until the space between them filled up with Marie's luscious body.

Thank you for reading. If you love it, tell your friends. Please post a favorable review at Amazon, Good Reads, and other online resources. If you want to thank the author, you may also buy a copy for the low price of a cup of coffee. It's called Read-a-Latte: similar (or lower) price as a latte at your favorite coffeeshop, but the book lasts forever while the beverage is quickly gone. Thank you (JTC).

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