"Jerry"

When I was growing up in Clinton, South Carolina I knew who my neighbors were. As a matter of fact I was in and out of their houses constantly. They were an extension of my family and I felt almost as comfortable in their homes as I did in my own. But when I got married, bought a house, and moved into a neighborhood I never socialized or visited with my neighbors.

It wasn't that I didn't like the people who lived next door to me, my wife and I were just so busy that we never had a chance to visit and get to know the people who lived next door. Over the years there were a few exceptions but generally that was how it was.

A couple that we knew fairly well lived next door to us for a while. We would see them at church and at various parties but we never saw each other much in the neighborhood. I remember hearing them tell someone once that they had lived next door to us for three years and never saw us. And that is true. Unless they glimpsed us coming into the house or leaving the house they didn't see us.

And that brings us to Jerry. Jerry and his wife moved in across the street from us a few years ago. I would spy them walking their dogs as I drove on the street but we hadn't formally met. But one day as I was driving out of my driveway they were leaving their house to walk their dogs. The male member of the couple ran up to the car and knocked on the window. "I just want you to know we love watching you on TV," he said. "We like to go to the movies and we look for your reviews."

I smiled, thanked him and went on my way. I tried to remember his name and finally decided it was David. Now why David I don't know. His name, as I found out later is actually Jerry. But I called him "David" for almost two years - and he responded when I would shout "Hello, David" as I drove out of my driveway.

Anyway I would see "David" and his wife from time to time and sometimes I would stop and he and I would talk movies. He was always friendly and easy to be around. But I was still surprised when he came over and knocked on my door a couple of weeks ago. He pointed out that I had a tree dying in my front yard. I told him I knew it was dying but the guy I had asked about cutting it down wanted three hundred and fifty dollars. I wasn't ready to invest that much to get it done.

"I can do it," he said. 

"For how much," I answered.

"Nothing," he said, "I will just take it down."

I really thought he was just making conversation, and this was proven to me when he didn't say anything else about the tree. Then a few days ago my wife and I went out to run some errands and when we returned home the tree was lying in my front yard. Jerry was busy sawing off branches and hauling off the debris.

I couldn't believe it. He had actually done it. He said the guy who lives next to him helped him with it. It was down; it was done; and I owed him nothing.

I will do something for him - beside call him by the right name - but I don't know what it will be. He is the epitome of the good neighbor. I have learned from other people that this is not out of the ordinary for him. He just likes to help people. In this day and age how rare that is.

My life is still busy, and I am still in and out. But I do take time to visit with my neighbor and friend Jerry. And you know life is the better for it.

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

Click above to find out more about Jackie's books!