Neighbors 2nd half: The calender said spring was coming, but the weather was fighting back. We had terrible weather. It rained and snowed and the wind was of gale force. The house across the street didn't have a garage. It had a car port. That means: a roof without walls. It was constructed of aluminum panels, interlocked as shingles are. Well, the builder of the carport faced the seams the wrong way, because when the snows fell, the roof buckled.
When the wind blew with force, the whole thing literally came apart at the seams. Each sheet of aluminum was still attached on one end. The other end waved about like a snake. Noises from the crackling metal could be heard day and night. The children of the neighborhood were fascinated. Mine own stood at the picture window and watched and listened, fascinated, to the wrething shapes of aluminum.
It was also dangerous, because cut edges of aluminum are sharp. So We all kept away until the wind stopped blowing and the insurance company came. (Why do We love to see man made things wrecked?) The metal strips, much out of shape, were removed. All that is up there now, is the frame...good for climbing on, by neighborhood children.
I hear the owners of the house are thinking of putting up fiberglass panels instead of aluminum. Something about the cost involved.
She did things I admire. I never saw her overly excited or ruffled. Her house was always clean. She changed from slacks for housework, to a dress and took the curlers from her hair when her husband came home. They never bought junk, so they were never "cluttered". The whole family took rides in the car after supper. She took a bath every morning. Her little girl's face was always clean. She baked cookies and gave some to the neighbors.
Her skin was dark and her eyes were brown. We never did find out if she was Mexican, Spanish, or Indian. Anyways, I liked her.