Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Neighbour-Watching

Are peepies only peepies when they look in from your own garden? Everyday, when I arrive home from work, I have to come and go three times from street to house because of all the books I pack. I do not really read them all, so they come along for the mental comfort.

And as I do my back and forth, I always catch the sudden dart of a human head here, a flash of artificial light or the slightest shift of a curtain there, from the corner of my eye – a neighbour’s been peeping again. Different neighbouring windows at different ETAs pull their curtains every time I pull up at night.

They are all youngish and married with little kids and many morals to protect with plenty drama – I guess. But even if I were the Male-Moral-Menace, I come and go way too late and too devilishly early for any impressionable infant to espy. Be-frigging-sides, no one has seen the single me bring devastating Danielles to my house to affront the sleeping morals of the street.

So, are they simply curious (we’ll explore envy at another time) at a young man – unmarried and free – among all these hindered homemakers? I bet they’ll keep curtain-drawing until they find out what they want to see. Their secret fears or thrills or curiosity simply amuse me. What I dislike is being watched like a dangerous animal.

18 comments:

  1. Interesting post. Kinda reminds me of that 80s song by Rockwell "Somebody's Watching me". I guess Neighbour-watching comes with the generally wave of boredom sweeping across our lovely nation Ghana. However, are you sure the neighbours are not just looking out to ensure neigbourhood security?

    I personally wish my neighbours would look out more often, they are pretty much into minding their own business.

    ReplyDelete
  2. thanks for a refreshing, direct narrative of your daily life! :)
    If they watch you like a dangerous animal, you should be proud. I sometimes feel like I'm being watched like a monkey in the circus - though openly everywhere I go, not secretely through closed curtains... Life of obroni I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Abby, my neighbours are neighbour-watching (curiosity) and not neighbourhood-watching (crime prevention).

    I agree with what you said about boredom. What can we all do about it?

    ReplyDelete
  4. A direct narrative, you reckon, Yngvild?

    Modest people (one of whom I am not, lol) do not like being watched!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh I see...so they are the Nosy Neighbour types ie The Supreme upholders of Morality in Ghana types. I think we need a really entertaining soap opera on tv to keep people glued to their tv sets and away from the windows.
    Yngvild, I totally understand what you mean about being watched like a monkey in a circus..I felt that way when I was in Jakarta for a conference a couple of years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well put, Abby, the "Supreme Upholders of Morality". Those people who stand in windows and criticise you because they've seen you do what they also do but you've not seen yet.

    ReplyDelete
  7. well, what do I know. It was more of a story about you than one of your more poetic (and great!) posts. But i liked it anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  8. And that third-rate lawyer across your apartment who thinks he is the best thing that happened to Ghana - He's in the habit of staying too long behind the curtain with his alleged trophy-wife watching one as if one is about to pull a rocket propelled grenade from one's trunk. I may just do so next time I come over.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Atta, do i have to go over this again. I think you already know the answer. I bet, if i were in their shoes i will be watching too. They are asking,"Who the hell is this 'small boy' who leaves so early in the morning and comes so late in the night" "what kind of work is he doing" "I hope he is not one of those cocaine people" Another will ask "hmm, i wonder if he is a care taker for somebody" "i hear he is a lawyer" Noway, this small boy can never be a lawyer-not in a hundred years. hahahaha
    And my favorite comment from the neighbors is "what wicked mother will allow their teenage son to live all by himself" hmm maybe he won the lottery and is being rebellious. hahahahaha
    I wish i can tell the neighbors that they should be proud to have a genius living so close. I wish i can also say that their small boy is actually a top notch lawyer who is really on top of his game.
    David, take it as a complement that you are able cause such curiosity among your neighbors. I always like it when people underestimate you and then you pounce like a lion and surprise the hell out of them. take care and you better dont filter this or else !!!!!
    Kweku A.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kizz, why do you sound like a jealous guy. Hope that guy has not put a nail in your car tire. hahahaha. Miss ya. get in touch brother. Kweku A.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Well, then, you have me figured out, Ama Broni. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tee Hee Hee, Kiz. Great that he is an unlikely visitor to this blogosphere. We could have a situation on our hands. Gee, I love the freedom of blogs. And, please, do the rocket thing, ok? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awwwwwww, your comment has me in raptures, Kweku. Bless you my friend. I see the funny and complimentary side of it. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  14. i guess we all do some watching sometimes...curiosity!

    but to your question on the boredom, i think we should throw a big party for all (the watchers and the watched)...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gee, have a party so that we will be ogled by the ogre? I think not. Lol.

    ReplyDelete
  16. and oh...

    hahahahaha...so sure they would sooner or later see what they want to find out!

    out of the morality high-bag! bang...here!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Kweku, Kiz is not jealous. I saw the incident that makes him describe the man so.

    ReplyDelete

After writing your comment, please select the Name/URL box below, and write your name in the box, before submitting your comment.