Chuck ushered them through the cluttered foyer to a dusty living room with a cracked leather sofa and recliner facing a late model tv that was off. The room would have seemed spartan to David had it not been for the obvious grime and stacks of stuff on the coffee and end tables.
Chuck ushered them to sit on the couch and then went to get them some water. David looked around the room. Other than the laptop left on the seat of the recliner, there was nothing in this room that looked like it was cared about.
Chuck went into the kitchen and stepped gingerly past the broken glass. He filled two glasses with ice water and made his way back to the living room.
"Thank you very much," David said taking the glass from the strange man. Colin muttered a quiet thanks as well and they each took a gulp.
"Listen Chuck," David said, taking control of the conversation, "I'll pay to have your window replaced. Just tell me how much you think it'll cost."
Chuck paused and looked up from the laptop he had been tapping and typing on. "Let me look up some estimates for a moment."
Chuck typed away and David sat there drinking his water and wondering when he could get over this awkward neighborly interaction.
Chuck looked up after a while and said, "Don't you think your boy should pay it off? He's the one who broke it."
Chuck noticed how Colin blanched at the statement but David didn't acknowledge his son's embarrassment.
"No, it's my fault. I never expected him to hit the ball. We've been trying for years to get him up to speed in sports but he's useless." David said.
Chuck watched Colin's fear about repayment turn to embarrassment as the pale skin flushed a bright red. It wasn't his fault he had no talent for sports. The high school senior was an obvious nerd.
Chuck looked back to his computer and pressed a couple of buttons. At that moment, David felt an urgent need. He had to piss.
"Chuck, can I use your bathroom?" He said with sudden urgency, leaving the discussion of the window repair for a moment.
Without waiting for a response, David had stood up and started looking around.
"Second door on the right," Chuck said without lifting his eyes from the computer but gesturing down the short hall that terminated in the kitchen.
David rushed down the hall and entered the bathroom.