The Weirdo(s) Across the Street

I don't know why, but the house across the street from me has always been occupied by weirdos.

I live in a neighborhood of smallish but well-kept homes. Though I don't always know names, I do know most of my neighbors by sight. For the most part, they're a friendly bunch, but not super-nosy which I very much appreciate. I know if I have a problem, I could knock on almost anyone's door and they'd help if they could. That, to me, is the definition of being a good neighborhoo. The consistent exception, however, is the house directly across the street.

In the seven years I've lived here, four different sets of people have occupied it which is unusual. I can't think of any other house in the 'hood with such a high turnover. When I moved in, Carrie and Michael lived there. They were okay, although Michael used to make me crazy when he'd park on my side of the street close enough to the edge of my driveway to almost block me in. After they got married and moved out, the man I refer to "No eyebrow guy" took over ownership. To my nearsighted eyes he looked cute enough and appeared to be single, so one day when he was washing his car in the driveway I summoned all of my courage and walked over to introduce myself. As soon as I got his attention and we began talking I realized that I couldn't focus on anything other than the fact that where his eyebrows should've been was a blank canvas. He appeared to be in his 30s, had an athletic build, and a full head of dark hair which would seem to preclude illness, but had absolutely nothing above his eyes except forehead. I don't know if they never existed or had been been burned off or overplucked, but it freaked me out. Though he wasn't super-friendly toward me (he probably noticed my stare), he took really good care of that house. In addition to updating the bathroom and kitchen appliances all by himself, in one afternoon he re-landscaped the front yard, adding concrete block and all sorts of interesting shrubs and grasses. After two years or so, he moved out and a 20-something single girl moved in. She was nice enough, but the odd thing about her is that she didn't even occupy the house a year before the house went back on the market and was purchased by the current weirdo.

I don't have a clue about this dude's story. The only time he's ever outside is when he cuts the grass in his baggy gray sweatpants and oversized white t-shirt. As far as I can tell, he does no other yardwork whatsoever-- not even to pick up branches that have fallen after a storm. His curtains and blinds are always closed, and his front door is usually shut tight despite the fact that he has a glass storm door. But the oddest thing about him is his reaction to me. For reasons I can't explain, he seems to be intimidated by me. If we happen to be walking up our driveways at the same time (our driveways are directly across from one another), he'll turn back toward his house before we reach the end. If I'm in my yard when he drives up in his car-- and I know he sees me-- he'll turn into his drive with nary a wave or nod. And the other day as my dog and I were walking up the street toward my house at the completion of our walk, the dude started to open his front door to get the mail but stopped and went back inside when he saw me approach. No, I'm not a stalker and I swear I'm not being paranoid. I've had absolutely no interaction with this guy and yet he seems to be avoiding me like the plague. Of all the odd people who have lived in the house prior, this guy takes the cake as the oddest of them all.

Wonder how long this weirdo will last before the he moves on and the next oddball moves in? The clock is ticking...