Right from the beginning there was something odd about the new neighbors. They seemed very nice, a typical young couple with a cute little boy. They came and went just like everyone else, were quiet at night and friendly as we talked over the fence. They had a couple of cats which walked on the fence, but stayed on their side of the property.

In short, the new people were the perfect neighbors — not a bit of bother. But still, something seemed off. When I talked to the man over the fence, he seemed normal. He was clean cut, good looking and projected friendliness. Maybe I figured, it was just strange that all I had seen of him and his wife were their heads, bobbing above the fence as they arrived and departed. I only knew they had a boy from his voice and his dad talking with him.

Finally one day, I heard the family out in front of their house, and curiosity got the better of me. I got a short step ladder, leaned it on a tree near the fence and peered over. The three of them were talking excitedly about an upcoming trip. The back of their SUV was open and full of bags, a box of food and a cooler. The man was turned towards his wife as the little boy hovered nearby. “Hovered” is the perfect term as, you see, the little boy had no body. Neither did his parents. All three were nothing more than heads which somehow floated five or six feet above the ground.

How they packed their car or did anything else I do not know, but they floated into the car, the tailgate closed and they drove off. I never saw them or their cats again.


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