The old Anderson place sat vacant for almost ten years, then two weeks ago a moving van pulls up.Two men start unloading these really big crates and carrying them inside. Two days later I see a black Mercedes pull into the drive and this couple gets out. She was wearing black Levis, a red sequin cowboy shirt that strained to contain her overdevelopedchest, and dark red cowboy boots. The man was just the opposite. He wore a black Armani business suit, dark aviator sunglasses, and black wing tips. As they approached the two-storygingerbread house I heard her say "What a dump."

He replied with a heavy German accent, "Asta, this house will suit our purpose fine."

Asta countered as she shut the door. "If you insist Der, if you insist."

That night I'm awakened by strange noises coming from their house. I look out the window but see nothing. The next morning I go out to get the paper and notice Asta and Der standing on the front porch bidding a couple good by. Der tells them, as they get into their Mercedes. "Be sure to be back in two days."

"Two days, we will be back and on time." The man said as he slammed the car door and backed out of the driveway. By the time I pick up the paper and turn in the direction of their house. Asta and Der have gone back in and closed the door. I decided to ask them about the noise later and went back in my home. Two days later I see their Mercedes is back in the drive when I return from work. That night it happens again. The next morning I see another couple leaving in their car as I take out the garbage. Returning to my house I feel them staring at me. I glance their direction, wave, and say, "Welcome to the neighborhood. My name is…" They turn and go back into the house. The door slams. How rude I think as I head to my home.

"Do you think that pot-bellied neighbor will ask us about last night's noise?" Der asks.

"Not if we keep to ourselves. I know you don't like these people, but he is kind of cute. Der, you are not jealous of him?"

"Don't be ridiculous Asta."

"I remember what you did to our last neighbor Der." I remind him.

"And she got just what she deserved. That's the last time we try to be friendly with these people"

"I know they just won't leave us alone. By the way Der, what did she ask to borrow?"

"It's not important now. What's important is that we are ready when the Vogel's return."

A pattern develops over the next twelve days. Every two days I hear a loud noise at night and inthe morning a different couple leaves in their car. Two days later it is back and the cycle repeats itself. Finally I decide to go over and complain. I arrive home from work early and no car is in their drive. I go over and knock on the door. It opens slowly and no one is around. I shout. "Hello, is anyone here." Getting no reply I enter the house half expecting to find them dead. The inside was void of furnishings. What I saw was all kinds of strange machines. I shout. "Is anyone here?" I creep further into their house wondering what all this stuff is for. About this time I hear someone behind me ask. "Who are you and what have you done to the Knef's?"

Looking over my shoulder I see a man and a woman. The man starts reach into his coat pocket and...

I hurl myself deeper into the house looking for the back door or any other way out. I head down a hall towards the kitchen and hear a humming noise. As I reach the end of the hall a blinding light suddenly surrounds me. A sickening wave of terror wells up from my stomach and I feel as if a hundred spiders are crawling all over my back, I scream, then nothing.

I get up from my control couch and remove the neural headset. Turning to Der I say. "I hope the Elser's had a nice weekend getaway here on Earth."

"Why don't you ask them yourself Asta? They're still here." Der says as he points to the Elser's.

"Then who did we transport?" I ask.

"That dammed pot-bellied neighbor." Der replies.

Shaking my head I say. "We have to bring him back."

"You know it takes two days to recharge." Der states flatly.

I check the transport's power and inform Der. "We only used half the charge. We can bring him back now, if we hurry."

"What about us?" The Elser's inquire.

"You get an additional free two-day visit. Now go." Der yells.

We quickly take our positions on the control couches. I activate the emergency recall and moments later a blinding flash in the transport chamber signals he's back. We rush in and retrieve our pot-bellied neighbor. "How do we handle this?" I ask.

"Simple, we alter his memory, give him a nasty case of the flu and put him to bed. By the time he is better we'll be gone." Der answers.

I awake to the sound of slamming doors. My head hurts and feels like lead. I pull on my housecoat and step into my slippers then go outside to see what's going on. I see. Asta and Der get in their Mercedes and drive off. The moving van quickly follows. Looking at their empty house I see a Realty World for sale sign in the yard. I think to myself. Those dammed neighbors were so rude. I never got the chance to meet them.