1 Neighbors

It was a bright and beautiful last day of summer when the new neighbors moved in next door. Jayson heard his mother, Vasia Dasef, yell for him, his father's voice could be heard but was more muffled, as if he was talking to someone. He waited a moment before he yelled his response back to her, "One moment mom!" He finished combing his hair before sliding down the banister that lead to their hallway, his jeans running smoothly across the mahogany wood like every time he did it, and his dark blue T-shirt pulling tighter to his chest. With a gentle thud of his bare feet, he landed and walked into the living room, it had corduroy furniture and a flat the screen TV hanging on a wall. They had just redone their livingroom a few days before, their old furniture having been worn down enough to make his mother want new. When he looked around, he found out why his mother wanted him in the livingroom. A woman who looked to be in her 30's, a man who looked about 35, and a girl that looked around his age, were sitting on the extended couch while his mother and father sat on the loveseat.

"Jayson!" his father, Zev Dasef, said scoldingly, "you took forever up there!" His mother slightly hit his fathers arm. "Okay I suppose not forever but you could have been quicker."

"Come meet Joshua Roberts, Lanise Roberts, and their daughter, Casera Roberts. We have invited them over for supper this evening." His mother said, looking at the Roberts family.

"Hello everyone" he said while looking at Casera, thinking he might have just made a cute new friend. Remembering what his mother had taught him, he introduced himself. "I am Jayson Dasef, I am also very happy to meet you all."

"Hello" the Roberts family chorused by complete accident, which cause Casera to giggle slightly. This made Jayson look at her questioningly. "Apologies, that does not happen a lot so when it does, I get the giggles."

Vasia smiles gently at Casera, "Thats all right, dear. Now Jayson, these are our new neighbors, I already told them that you would help their daughter around school tomorrow, okay? I want her to feel welcome in the school and not like she doesn't belong." She stared him down hard to make sure he listened to her.

Even without the stare, Jay was going to say okay. There was something a little off about the girl sitting in front of him and he wanted to find out what it was. "Sure, I will help her." He said before giving Casera a smile.

"Good, you also are in the same grade and have the same classes. What a marvelous coincidence. Which means you can make her feel at home here in Madison and as if she had always went to school with everyone."

Jayson nodded at his mother, "Yes ma'am. I will do all I can to make her feel like she had been at the school forever, I will introduce her to everyone." He said still smiling at Casera.

"Thank you Jayson. You are very kind." Casera said while smiling at her new friend. He was cute for a teenager but she wouldn't get attached to him. She never had before so why would she now?

Jayson grinned at the blacked haired girl. "You're welcome Casera, let me know if I can do anything to help your stay be more welcome!" She smiled broadly with a giggle and nodded to him before standing to leave with her mother and father until dinner the same evening. He watched then all leave with interest. Joshua walked with a dignified air while both women walked with complete grace.

A few hours later, a gentle knock was heard through the semi quiet home. Vasia hung up her cooking apron before going to her husband. "Love, go get Jayson. I expect this to be the Roberts." Zev nods before wiping flour from his wife's cheek. With an exchanging of soft smiles, Vasia goes to the door and Zev goes to retrieve their son.

With a deep breath, Vasia opens the door, a bright smile on her face. She had been correct, it was the Roberts family on the other side of the door. With the wind in the crisp fall air, they were bundled in thick jackets. "Welcome once more my friends! You can hang your coats on our rack. I have but one odd request of you all. Please remove your shoes and place them on the mat, here." She point to where her family's shoes were on a black mat. "We would like to keep the mud outside as much as possible."

Lanise smiles at the host of the dinner. "That is quite understandable Vasia. We do not think it odd of you to ask at all. Thank you for inviting us for dinner. We have not even gotten all of our kitchenware out away from the move yet. We were originally going to order take out before you offered." In fact, they already had all of the kitchenware put away but, Lanise and Joshua would be too busy to cook anything for a while due to their new jobs.

"Oh you poor dears. I feel so much happier for inviting you all over. I mean. I was already wanting you to come over, it wasn't obligation or anything." Vasia sighs and closes her eyes a moment and rests a hand on her forehead gently. "I am sorry for rambling." Warm hands takes her hand from her forehead and encompasses it.

Lanise smiles softly at the panicking woman in front of her. "Vasia, it is quite okay. We understand what you are trying to say. You are happy to have us and even more so that you could help."

Vasia smiles gratefully, "Yes, that's exactly it. Thank you, again." She smiles as her hand is dropped and she starts to lead the way to the dining room. There was T-bone steak, home made mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and caramel drizzled brownies sitting on it, along with six plates. With a smile, she gestured for them to sit at the round table just as Zev and Jayson came into the room. Once the Roberts sat, so did the Dasef's. The women were sitting next to each other and their husbands sat beside their respective wives, leaving Jayson and Casera to sit next to each other.

Once Zev made the entirety of his plate, the other followed suit, the brownies staying untouched until the dinner was through. All through dinner, everyone talked, the fathers talking across the table. The night ended with a promise to do the dinner again, friendships made, and full stomachs. Once the Roberts family left, the Dasef's started to clean up dinner, having told the Roberts to leave it to them.

As soon as the Roberts made it home, down two houses and across the street, their jackets and shoes came off as well. It was warm in their home and they were already full, making them feel very tired. With a yawn from Casera, she bid her parents goodnight before heading to bed, her parents following her soon after.