Wrong Neighborhood: Two Short Stories

This edition includes two short stories: On Camera and Moving Day. On Camera tells the story of Stacy Sterling, an anything-for-a-story reporter told through the eyes of a smitten admirer. Moving Day uncovers the mystery of a neighbor known only on the surface.The new blade, the second of a twin pair, slices skin and lets blood out. There’s hardly even a sting at first, before the foamy shaving cream turns pink, then red, and here’s the sting, for real now, as if let loose by blood. Foam redder still. A pretty deep cut.“Damn.”His right hand passes the razor to his left then dives into a blue box of paper napkins by the basin and brings one—two actually, they tend to cling together—out. He presses them against his skin. A few seconds, then tests by removing. Blood still coming. He dabs the cut a couple of times, but the bleeding does not stop. Precious minutes. “Damn,” again. It will not stop bleeding. He throws the bloodstained napkins in the toilet bowl and grabs another pair from the box. Dabs the cut again. Less blood this time. Finally. Leaves a strip of napkin stuck to the cut to help the blood settle and seal.Then he finishes shaving, more carefully now. The cut still stings and it will show. “Damn,” for a third time. The after shave which smarts like hell. Sizzles the cut, now a small red smile smack in the middle of his right cheek. Looks ridiculous. And still stings.The aftershave reminds him of Alice.Aramis.The scent brings her face along with it. Alice of the long red hair and the many freckles. Of the great smile. Of the wedding bells, or else. Malice Alice. He-said-no-not-right-now-so-she-took-off-and-left-him-to-rot Alice.