Our Nextdoor Neighboors

I'm speaking of the neighboors to the east, who are going to be the neighboors I'm speaking of at least 90% of the time. They are David, Alice and their kids. Three of the kids are Alice's and one of them is David's, the infant girl, Davona. The rest are boys. There is a Terrance, one that goes by 'Man', and one that's primary grade age who is confined to a wheelchair. I've never seen him, but I see his physical therapist once in a while. He's also got a tutor, so I've got my hopes that he can read.

David is a former resident of Lorton. He did 10 years, which is a LOT. Lorton is full, so the only people who actually serve out their terms are the drug offenders that were unlucky enough to get stuck with the federal mandatory sentencing minimum. Anyway, based on what I've seen, David doesn't do drugs. I think he probably killed somebody.

David is basically OK. (I know that's weird. I said "he probably killed somebody" and then "he's an OK guy." If he killed somebody, I figger they prolly needed killin'.) I rarely have a problem with him. The whole dynamic of that family, however, signifies everything that's wrong with DC. David and Alice aren't married, and, as such, he has no control over those kids. I've never seen kids that so sorely needed a father figure. Alice won't allow him to discipline them, and they know it, so they do whatever they want. They aren't completely ruined yet, so I know she administers some discipline - I think she's neither vigilant nor consistent, however. The kids don't seem to go to school on a regular basis, and this sure doesn't help. Does it go without saying that no one over there has a job? David would work, but he's an unskilled ex-con, so that didn't work out for him.

David's got a nasty temper, but he doesn't want any trouble with us, so we generally deal with each other in a civil manner. He can be shamed into doing things, like cleaning up the trash behind his house that always winds up in our yard. Really, the only issue I've got with him is that he will knock on our door any time he likes for no particular reason. I know he knows we're home, but that doesn't mean I feel like coming to the door. There's no recognition of privacy.

As for Alice, well, I used to think she had more sense than David. I was wrong.