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Mon 19 Mar, 2007 04:33 pm
Anyone who has read more than a few of my threads knows how much I love all my neighbors. Two months ago one of my favorite neighbors moved and someone bought the house and they are using it as a rental. New neighbors moved in the first of this month.
This morning new neighbor raised the alarm about a "suspicious, bush-headed, dark skinned" man cruising the neighborhood and stopping to talk to the kids. "Joe-Bob" chased him down but didn't get the tag number. They're a-watching though and they're calling the cops.
Oh my!
She continued her description and I realized that she was describing "Francois". Francois is a single father who has a daughter Mo's age, "Lilly", so, of course, they know every kid in the neighborhood.
They "cruise" the neighborhood because they live on our street. They stop and talk to the kids because they know all of the kids.
She's still suspicious and says she's calling the cops.
Should I warn Francois?
I don't know them very well because Francois works a lot and Lilly isn't around all that much and it is a little awkward to knock on their door and explain that he's the boogey man and the cops are going to be looking out for him.
But he's a nice guy and doesn't need the hassle.
I just don't want to stir up some pot that is better left alone.
What do you think I should do?
Oh christ. Can you complain the the rentor?
I forgot to mention --
When Mo got home from school today I asked if he had seen Lilly and her Dad this weekend and he said that they had driven by and stopped to talk so I am fairly certain that it was Francois that she saw talking to the kids.
Ooof.
Can you counter-call the cops? Hi, my neighbor ___ said that she was concerned about someone, I'm fairly certain that she's referring to Francois [etc., backstory/ why she's concerned]. If he's the one she's concerned about (maybe provide address) I just wanted to give you further info...
wellll, them bush headed dark skinned folk can be mighty upsetting
congratulations boomer, you got a nut case for a nieghbour
enjoy
and try to act very normal, or this could happen
ma'm, we'd like you to come downtown and answer a few questions
p.s., i'd warn francois if i saw him
One reason I suggested counter-calling is that your neighbor may just be blustering and I wouldn't want you to get in the middle of that. As in:
Neighborlady threatens to call cops.
You go tell Francois.
Francois, understandably, is miffed.
Francois confronts Neighborlady somehow.
Neighborlady hadn't in fact called the cops, and has only complained to boomer, and puts two and two together and gets mad at boomer.
Francois is mad at Neighborlady, Neighborlady is mad at Francois and boomer.
As djjd says though if you run into Francois I can't quite imagine holding back the info.
But I think counter-calling might be beneficial either way -- help temper things if Neighborlady does call, and give you the info that it's just bluster if she doesn't call.
Though maybe they can't give out the info re: whether she's called or not, I dunno.
Hmmmm....
Oh yeah! Warn Francois. Maybe you could have a neighborhood get together this weekend - a welcoming. That way nut case can meet the bushy-head and maybe be dissuaded from calling the cops.
That's a good idea.
I was just coming back with the thought that maybe Boomer can go to Neighborlady instead -- "I just realized who you were probably talking about, he's just a neighborhood dad, that's why he knows the kids and talks to them" -- but a way for those two to get to know each other sounds better yet. Guess it could be a combo.
That might work. Spring break starts mid-week so the timing could work. It's just that Francois is not home much....
I DID tell her that she was describing Francois and his car and said I wouldn't worry about that particular man but she waved off my effort.
I really don't want to be the busy-body person. Our neighborhood already has one of those. I'll be mad, though, if Francois has any grief because of Neighborlady.
kill francois and the neighbor. solomon decision.
They're coming to take you away, haha!
They're coming to take you away, heehee!
One of the she-hooligans came over, she's 11, and she confirmed that Lilly's Dad stopped to talk over the weekend. I'm feeling VERY certain that Francois is our busy-headed stranger.
Since not much time has passed I think I'll call the neighborhood gossip and do the big ".... did you hear....? It was Francois....." and hope that it makes it to Neighborlady.
Maybe tomorrow I'll go talk to Neighborlady and say "I'm glad you're on the look out. We all keep an eye on each other's kids and we're glad to have you aboard. You should know that the person you saw was Francois and he's one of us." or something like that.
I really don't want to give her the impression that I'm trying to befriend her though because after this I have a feeling that I won't like her too awfully much.
<sigh>
I'm wondering if his name had been "Rick" or "Paul" or something if she would have believed me. "This guy didn't look like a Francois" she said.
I'll let you all know how it turns out.
Thanks for listening. It's really been bothering me today and it feels good to get it off of my shoulder and get some feedback.
I don't have an answer (I see this woman as a potential problem neighbor - she seems far out to lunch) but will post to say I'm a little chary of calling the police. Where they may dismiss the neighbor's call, they might really check out two calls.. as in, it might work, but it also might backfire.
boomerang wrote:"This guy didn't look like a Francois" she said.
what the hell does a francois look like anyway
Bushy-haired, dark-skinned stranger sounds scary!
Boo!
Ha!
I my neighborhood a Francois looks like a swarthy bushy-haired short man wearing glasses driving a silver car.
Good point about the counter call, osso. I wouldn't have thought of that.
Yeah, I agree. Dunno how these things work.
Your plan sounds good, boomer.
BBB
A welcome to the neighborhood pot luck party is a good idea. The neighbor will soon find out that the boogie man is a nice guy.
BBB
Natch, I don't know that I'm right, it was just bothering me..
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