Moving into a new house was the only thrill that was circulating in her body. At first, she was sad and skeptical and hated to admit how hurt she was about leaving behind all her childhood memories in Honeyhills and her best friend, Tammy. She remembered how they both cried at their last sleepover. Not even their best-of-all-friends forever song had cheered the duo.
"Everything is going to be fine." My mom placed her hands on her shoulders like she had said anything to the contrary. The house helps brought in innumerable boxes from our former house- a duplex while my mom busied herself on a phone call.
"...yeah. He wants a new life whatever… I guess he is sick and tired of what we've shared for fifteen years now! Yes, Bill is very fine… it's hard on her…very hard."
Bill moved into the small bungalow and was somewhat impressed with the furniture and coziness of the living room. There were three brown sofas and a small wooden table at the center. The whole space smelled like fresh wood in a Carpenter's workshop. Bill told herself she would get used to it, as she had always hated the luxurious life her parents had made her life.
Her father, a famous businessman, Mr McCole had filed a divorce because her mother had complained about his busy life and she advised him to settle down. He would yell and throw things, sometimes drunk in his anger. Bill's father threatened to leave them without a penny to their name. Not long after they had both separated, rumors had gone around the country that he had an expensive wedding with his "Hollywood sweetheart" who happened to be an actress.
Bill had chosen the basement as her room against her mother's wishes. She wanted privacy now that she had the opportunity to. Her room had a little bed and a small closet and had the same smell as the living room. The little room was dusty at all corners and she remembered that her mom would be sending all the help away because she didn't have the finance to pay them.
They hadn't settled down when they heard the doorbell ring.
"I'll get that." Her mom said with a smile. Bill knew she was trying her very best to make herself comfortable when she already was.
"Welcome! I'm Mrs Shawn, your neighbor next door and we came to say hi." A redheaded lady said with so much delight almost popping her head into the house.
"That is so thoughtful of you," Andy said with a slight frown. Bill's mom was not used to having conversations with local women.
"My son is also here with me and we brought you a gift." She had walked in without an invitation. "Such a nice house… although this wasn't what I expected a little…"
She had taken a seat by the right while my mom had gone to the kitchen to get sodas for our uninvited guests. Mrs Shawn's son, obviously of my age, sat beside his mother. With his ugly glasses, he looked like a complete nerd.
"Good day ma'am. I'm Bill." I said with a curtsey. Mrs Shawn mopped at me from my green hair to my blue sweatpants down to my bare feet.
"Nice to meet you. My son's your age yuuno? You guys will be friends in time and will chill together like bros." Her S sounds like Z. The neighbor had probably mistaken me for a boy.
"I'm a girl," I said with a coy smile. I got that a lot because of the way I dressed and my hair…
"Wow." She said, puzzled. "And your hair is green?" She frowned with contempt. "That's irresponsible."
Anger gripped Bill and she felt an urge to yank her lips off her body yet she smiled. Her mom almost immediately had come in with four bottles of Coca-Cola and a carton of pizza.
"Fast food. Didn't know we will be expecting someone so soon." Andy stressed soon to make Mrs Shawn feel uncomfortable but it seemed not to work.
"Your daughter… She looks like a boy and you need to change that. Her hair is the same shade of lemon!"
Bill's mom didn't say a word as she set the food on the table.
"Why is her name Bill? Bill is the name of a boy."
Nobody uttered a word after that. Mrs Shawn's son who had been quiet all along gave Bill an apologetic look. He seemed shadowed by his mother.
While we ate, Mrs Shawn wouldn't stop talking about the gardener down the road, to the lady who had seven children. Then she talked about the boy who sells ice cream and the clown that made everyone laugh. She was a chatterbox that wouldn't give herself a chance to stop talking for a second.
"I heard about your ex-husband." Mrs Shawn finally crossed the line. "I watched his wedding live on YouTube… his wife looked so radiant in her pink wedding dress and gosh her veil trailed so long. She's way more beautiful than you are."
My mom had had the last straw quicker than I expected. She smiled forcefully before she finally spoke.
"Mrs Shawn… I don't want to sound rude but please will you get the fuck out of my house right now. I've had enough for today."
"But I'm not done with my Coca-Cola…" she said with sorry eyes.
"My daughter and I have a lot of cleaning to do." Bill's mom said, trying to hide her anger. She looked like she wanted to fling her out of the house.
"Okay. But I'll be back tomorrow… Trust me we will be good friends." Mrs Shawn winked before she left with her awkward son.
Bill and her mom exchanged looks. They were stuck almost forever with their chatterbox of a neighbor.