House no. 21

Chapter 1- Welcome to my life, guys.

House number 21.

It's just an empty house right across the street of ours, and a neighbour of ours has moved out several months ago.

Just a normal bungalow that looks identical to ours.  In fact, all the houses in this neighbourhood look like a bunch of clones, if you ask me.

I mean it. It's like the architects have either lost their creative touch, or they just can't be bothered to differentiate the housings in this town.

Anyway, I was told by my mom previously that there would be a new family relocating to that house over there, right across the street. Not that I really care.

"Honey, guess what!" my mom exclaims, as she burst into my room.

Gosh, did she just conveniently ignore the 'Don't disturb' sign at the door? I was immersed in my novel for a moment; till she broke into my room like that.

"What mom?" I automatically hiss, as I slip a bookmark into my novel.

"Well, the new neighbours are finally here- which means that it's time for us to welcome them," she replies, smiling at me.

Yes, as you can see, my mom loves having new neighbours. No, actually, she just loves meeting new people in general. She's one of those over-friendly people who has to get to know each one and every person she faces. 

I don't understand her, honestly. I don't.

I languidly draw my plain, dark-purple curtains to the side and take a quick glance at the house number 21. A horde of workers struggle as they convey some gigantic brown boxes into the house.

Then, when I shift my gaze, I spot the family. I first notice an excessively girly-looking, blonde who was wearing a hot pink dress that nearly blinded me with its radiant shade of colour, just like the golden sunshine flashing into my eyes.

No, that was a shitty sarcasm. Basically, it's an eyesore for me, and excessively pink for me to endure looking at.

The generous looking man standing behind the girl, probably the father, wearing a suit with a tie, begins to sweat crazily. Does this man have no common sense at all, in fact; stupid? Our town has a scorching hot weather that allowed no dandy-dressed man to look decent, by damping their armpit regions with perspiration.

I mean, who wears a suit when relocating?

He smiles at his loving wife, who is wearing an elegant, long black dress with a slit in the side. To top it off with her posh style, a pair of Prada sunglasses that cover nearly the half of her face.

You may think that I'm being a little too observant, but trust me- their fashion really stands out on a sweltering hot afternoon, where only quietness filled the air.

"Maybe I should invite them for dinner tonight," mom pipes in, breaking into my thoughts.

Yup, cause' she totally has to know all of her neighbours, right? And you know- invite those strangers for dinner, regardless of her knowing them or not.

"Mom, you don't know them at all," I protest, sighing.

I can already imagine the awkward atmosphere when we have them over for dinner. I'll probably just be casually gnawing away at my fork due to the quiet atmosphere which would indeed, slowly and painfully suffocate me.

"But honey, it's nice to have new people around. Besides, that girl- she seems like she's around your age. This is a perfect opportunity for you to socialize. Now get up and put away that novel," she responds with such ease.