The Neighbor Next Door

Finding some truth

It was very early in the morning when OJ left his house. The Cherries had yet to wake up, and probably wouldn't for a while longer, giving him time to go do something. It was awfully nosy, but... He felt like it might be necessary. He didn't want to be intrusive, but he wanted to be able to know how he could fix things.

So he visited BallPoint Pen.

"Hello," OJ said first, hoping he wasn't bothering his neighbor by visiting this early, though the older man already seemed ready for the day, not bothered at all by the early knocking.

"Ah, hello." BallPoint adjusted his glasses a bit as he opened the door, seeing who it was. "I'm pleased to see you again. I would actually like to invite you in. How do you feel about coffee, or tea?" The older man smiled as OJ stood at his door, a bit awkwardly, though he smiled back.

"Oh, thank you, coffee please," OJ walked in politely, unable to help looking around at the interior of the home. It led into a nice, well decorated living area, and just past that, an open doorway to a kitchen area, a hallway OJ didn't need to be nosy about beyond that, as BallPoint headed to his kitchen to prepare some drinks.

"Go ahead and sit in the living room. I will be with you in a moment,"

OJ complied, sitting as politely as he could in one of the chairs.

"I'm surprised you're here, really, but it's not unpleasant. I don't get visitors often, seeing as most of the people who I used to talk to in this neighborhood have either moved on, or... Well, you know." The older man briefly glanced back at the guest in his home.

"Were you close with my dad at all?"

"We talked occasionally. We weren't close, but we were civil." BallPoint answered honestly as he brought two mugs over, setting one down on a coffee table for OJ to take as he sat in the nicer chair in the room, leaning back into it as he took a drink of his coffee. OJ looked at the table, noticing all the various magazines that decorated it, as he took his own mug, taking a sip of some of the nicest brew he's had in a while. A pleasant surprise of his own. The two sat in silent for a few moments, before BallPoint spoke again;

"I assume you're here for reasons other than just coffee and small talk? Am I correct?"

OJ just glanced away, lowering his cup to rest in his lap.

"Well, I uh... I just..." OJ's mouth thinned into a line as he really thought about it. He didn't want to be nosy. He didn't want to go behind the guys back just to learn stuff, but... He needed to know. OJ wasn't after anything personal, no, he just... Wanted to understand why his neighbor was the way he was. If BallPoint refused to say anything, well OJ wouldn't fight that, but... He thought it was worth a shot.

"I wanted to ask you if there was anything you could tell me about MePhone,"

BallPoint raised a curious eyebrow as he took another sip from his cup.

"Shouldn't this be a conversation you have with him?"
"He's... Uh... We aren't really talking right now. We do talk-- over text and all, but... He hasn't really responded to me since it happened, and..."
"Do you want to know more about him, or are you asking me to do a wellness check?"

"Both? Honestly? Maybe? I just... I'm worried. I want the best for the guy, I mean, I see us as friends and all, and I just want to know he's okay. I also want to know if you can tell me anything so I can understand... What not to do around him? If that... Makes any sense?" OJ just sighed, staring down at the mug in his hands. He felt so awful, and intrusive for this, but... He had a good reason, right?

"Hm. Alright then." The older man set his mug down, adjusting the glasses on his face a bit.

"First of all, I must say most of this is speculation, because he doesn't tell me things when I visit, but it does seem like he's... erh..." The older man paused, trying to find a respectful way to put it, though he just ended up stating it bluntly; "Mentally ill."