The Second Entry

About two months ago, on a Saturday morning, I was walking out to get the newspaper at the end of the driveway. Always at the end of the driveway, sometimes halfway into the street. I think my paperboy is anemic. I look around and there's Bill. He's standing in the middle of the street in front of his house, still in his pajamas and man, does he look wasted. He's facing slightly away from me so I don't get a good look at his face, but he appears to have lost a lot more weight. His pjs are just hanging. So is his jaw. I'm thinking that he shouldn't be out there and whoever is taking care of him doesn't know. I'm not sure what to do, but he seems okay, then he turns and starts to walk back up his driveway. It's a very strange walk, almost like he has forgotten exactly how it's done. He brings his right knee up, almost waist high, then lets it fall. The next step is made by dragging his left foot forward. "Bill?" I hear Charlie calling. Then she comes running out to him, takes him by the arm and starts leading him back into the house. All the while she keeps looking around to see if anyone is watching. She spots me of course and makes a shoulder shrugging motion as if to say 'Kids.' I shrug back and pick my newspaper up. I'm thinking, gee - I thought he would have been dead by now. Thinking back I hear a little voice saying 'Maybe he was'.

The First Entry

I know this sounds silly but I'm starting to think one of my neighbors is a zombie. Or at least he is on his way to becoming one. His name is Bill something.
About six months ago I got into a conversation with him in the driveway. He actually lives (or not) two houses down but we've talked many times over the past few years. I mentioned he had lost some weight, intending it as a compliment. I hadn't noticed how his eyes looked a little hollow or his stance a little off balance. He told me was undergoing chemotherapy. He was also bald and I hadn't noticed because he was wearing a cap. I think I said something like Wow. I'm sorry. I didn't know. So what's the next step? There isn't one, he said. Just wait. That's a bummer, man. He said yeah he knew. So then we started talking about the National Health Bill or something.
I didn't see him again for a couple of months and then it was only in passing. He was wobbling out to the passenger side of his car. His wife, Charlie I think, was holding onto him. He had a cane, too. I was mowing and I sort of waved and he nodded back. Charlie didn't look up. I thought about him a lot for a few days. Then I didn't so much. Then I didn't at all. Then the ambulance brought him home. My neighbor across the street told my wife about it and she told me. They both concluded he wanted to die at home. I think he did - die at home, that is.