Neighbor Two to Neighbor One, help me put my shirt on!

The cell phone rang out on the desk in between the computer and the laptop. Neighbor One noticed the cell number without the name or ID displayed on the screen. Though curious, Neighbor One picks up the call asking who it is on the other line. It was the voice of Neighbor Two who live in the apartment complex across from Neighbor One.

Neighbor Two needed Neighbor One’s help because he couldn’t put his shirt on by himself. That he needs his friends to help right now despite the time being around nine pm and it’s cold outside. Giving himself a moment to think about what Neighbor Two is asking him from is a very awkward thing to be asking another guy for assistance. Then again, Neighbor Two had always been nice to Neighbor One since they met a few years back. He goes on to tell Neighbor Two he’ll be right over as he puts the cell phone down, grabs his sandals, and heads out into the desolate cold night.

Walking over toward Neighbor Two’s apartment the cold shivered Neighbor One’s legs that he should’ve worn pants, not shorts but that didn’t matter as he was helping out a friend. He walks up a couple of feet away as he takes a breathe standing a few inches in front of the door.

Knock knock knock. The door squeaks open.

Neighbor Two sees Neighbor One and lets him into the apartment. Neighbor One sees his friend only has his shorts on, but he looks over to the t-shirt laying on the couch. Neighbor One gives a subtle nod as he walks a few steps toward the couch as he grabs the t-shirt to unfolds helping put it on Neighbor Two.

A much-given thanks for giving a helping hand and gratitude that Neighbor Two appreciates. A few moments of small talk, they chit-chat briefly about their lives, what they’ve been up to lately, family friends, and the usual daily routine of living in a world getting worse every day that all people could do in their lives is being negative and put down other people.

Out of the kitchen, a young man appears, Neighbor Twos’ teenaged son. Seeing this, Neighbor One stares briefly at the kid waving hello but the kid doesn’t bother or care. He looks back at Neighbor Two deciding to cut the conversation short bidding his friend a good night.

Outside the walk back to his apartment was one of disgust. There was anger fuming in Neighbor One’s mind. He didn’t care about the cold night, he didn’t care about the stupid sandals that when he unlocked the front door he violently slammed it breathing heavily. He took a couple of deep breathes to calm himself as he headed over toward the kitchen pouring a glass of water to collect himself gathering all his thoughts and emotions.

Neighbor One needed to have time to reflect on what just happened. He felt like his buddy, Neighbor Two, used him for a ridiculous reason all because of a t-shirt he couldn’t put on himself. Still, trying to have the diligence to reflect himself as he went over to the kitchen refrigerator and poured another glass of cold water as he made his way toward the kitchen round table.

What transpired made Neighbor One give a real look at the situation that just transpired. Instead of himself being angry over helping out his friend put on his t-shirt, he was so mad that Neighbor Two had to call him because his teenaged son wouldn’t assist his father to help put on his shirt.

Before this event, Neighbor One and Neighbor Two were friends but more like acquaintances that would hang out on occasion talking about life and what it means to be alive. What Neighbor One knows is that a few years back, Neighbor Two got divorced after his ex-wife had an affair as well as a custody dispute over their son. From that type of stress, it lead to Neighbor Two suffering a stroke leaving him barely able to walk and without the use of his left arm. The realization that his friend’s teenaged son wouldn’t provide any kind of help, even if it’s over a t-shirt, as his son sees his father as a burden with no regard to his father’s condition.

Neighbor One stayed seated at his round table for a while in disbelieve of how bad his friend’s situation has become. This man had to call that is a friend and not a relative, especially when it’s regarding your teenaged son. It made Neighbor One shed a few tears over the level of disrespect his son would show to his father. No compassion.

If Neighbor One lacked any respect for either of his parents they’d slap some sense into their child.

Wiping his tears away, Neighbor One finishes up his drunk and stands up as he takes a deep breath that he holds for ten seconds, it’s ten-pm. He exhales and heads upstairs to his room office. Sits down on the desk, takes off his sandals seeing his cell phone laying on his laptop. He decides to pick it up and makes a phone call. Neighbor Two picks up the call where Neighbor One walks a few feet toward the window that looks out toward the apartment building his friend lives in. The conversation was brief but Neighbor One wanted to check up on Neighbor Two and let him know if he ever needs anything, give him a call, and wish him good night. He takes a deep sigh as he sets his phone down on the desk.