Cherise walked to the window to stand beside Franklin. She craned her neck to see through the slightly parted curtain that Franklin held open just enough to spy on the new neighbors. "They're actually moving in next to us?"
"Sure looks like it."
"I hope the government knows what it's doing letting them move into our neighborhood."
Franklin released the curtain suddenly and turned toward the door. "One of those government people is coming to our door."
"I hope they don't want us to come out and mumble a welcome to our new neighbors," Cherise said. She jumped at hearing the knock on the door despite expecting it.
Franklin walked to the door and opened it just enough to talk without letting the man in. "Yes?"
"I'm Gerald Abercrombie with the National Park Service. May I come in?"
"Must you?" Franklin asked.
"I won't take but a moment of your time, Mr. Berg. Besides, it's to your advantage since your government will assist you in living next to your new neighbors. For instance, you might be interested in learning that you qualify for a perfume allowance. You're entitled to these and more." Gerald held out his hand with several nosies as an offering.
"The less we have to do with our new neighbors, the better."
"I'm sorry to hear that, sir. After all, Mr. Tallen is a war hero."
"That just might be, but it doesn't mean that I have to like living next to him and his family. Why can't they stay somewhere else?"
Gerald shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not going to argue with you, sir. However, the law's the law and they're entitled to equal housing. They chose this neighborhood, so here they'll stay. If you'd like government assistance, then we'll gladly provide it. I suggest that you accept what's being offered."
Cherise wrinkled her nose as the wind shifted. She suddenly reached for one of the nosies that Gerald still offered. Within moments, she had the nosie in place and sighed with relief. "Yes, this is much better."
"Don't you want one, Mr. Berg?" Gerald asked.
Franklin let out his breath and inhaled only once before reaching for one of the nosies. He selected a larger model and slipped it into place over his nose, let out his breath once more, and then inhaled deeply through the nosie.
"Now isn't that better?" Gerald asked.
Franklin nodded. "War hero or not, I still say it would have been better putting the zombies back into the cemeteries instead of letting them move into the neighborhoods."
}|{ the end }|{