From Shutters to shimmies

MAUREEN

                Estelle Harvey was an older woman, not elderly but older, maybe in her mid to late forties. She’d been living in that old black shuttered house for as long as I could remember.  Living by routine she was always out of the house by 9 in the morning, dressed to impress in low heels, wide-legged dress pants and a nice blouse. At around six or seven in the evening she would return, her once perfectly done hair, now a wispy mess from the days wear. Every day I watched her come and go, always alone. No kids, no husband, not even a friend.

“What a pathetic life.” I thought aloud, “Look at me! I’m no better; all I do is watch her.” I couldn’t help it though. My curiosity always got the best of me.

                Ironically I just got a job  doing door to door cosmetics sales so now I had an opportunity to go and talk to her…”Jeez! How pathetic am I?!” I exclaimed. The truth of the matter was that I just have a hard time believing that she was happy in her solitude. I understand that there are many people that enjoy solitude over the company of others but after a while it has to become overwhelmingly lonely. I nodded in agreement with myself as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, readying myself for my first day on the job. I didn’t know how well this was going to go; with that I grabbed my product and lugged it across the street to Estelle’s house and rang the doorbell.

ESTELLE

            Today started like any other day, out of the house by 9 AM and home by 6, 7 depending on how the subways were running. After getting home and settling in, I was watching TV with my cat Cha-Chi when it all of the sudden it dawned on me how alone I was. With only Cha-Chi to comfort me I would soon be the crazy cat lady that everyone likes to make fun of. I have no family, no friends; I haven’t even been on a date since I was…Oh! I don’t even remember. What is wrong with me? I thought critically as I flipped through the channels holding back tears.