Last Thursday, I was on my way home from the grocery store, when my sanity was challenged. As I was driving down the street, I could have sworn I saw a clown a few houses down from mine. I blinked (hard) and when I opened my eyes again it was gone. I brushed it off at the time. Maybe a late afternoon birthday party? Who knows. It had happened a few more times before this, each time I brushed it off. But this time….felt different.

This morning, as I’m drinking the cup of tea I usually have before I start my day, I swear I saw the clown again. Just a peek of him, before he was gone. _Ok, this is starting to creep me out, I thought_. Maybe it’s time to ask the neighbor. A little background: I just moved to this town two months ago, so I don’t know the people well or even what their habits are yet. I did befriend my next door neighbor, a grandfatherly type, which is nice being a single woman. An hour passes and I make my way next door.

“Hey Tanya!” My neighbor calls from his porch.

“Hey Jim! Hey look I have a question for you”, I say as I walk through his gate.

“Sure. Wait would you like something to drink”

“No that’s ok”, I say as I sit down in the empty chair.

“Ok so what’s your question?” Jim asks

“Ok this is going to sound strange, but since I’ve lived here, I feel like I keep catching glimpses of a clown”, I hang my head, ashamed that I’m saying this out loud, “and it’s really starting to creep me out. You’ve lived here a long time, have you seen it ever?” Jim looked at me for a minute, thinking.

“Oh you must mean Bob”, he said. I looked at him in disbelief. It has a freaking name?! Seeing my face, Jim says “Bob’s a good guy. A little strange, you know dressing like a clown and all, but he’s a great neighbor. Throws the best bbqs. Get to know him. You’ll like him!” I couldn’t even wrap my head around what he was saying, so I thanked him for his answer and changed the subject.

After a lovely morning with Jim, I made my way back home and still didn’t feel right. The main reason was that this guy wasn’t dressing like any old clown. He looked like Pennywise. Yes THAT clown. And Jim just said it like it wasn’t a big deal. Am I missing something? Didn’t that guy eat kids or something? I decided to ask another neighbor later that afternoon.

After I had a minute to digest what Jim told me (and the way he told it), I went across the street to my neighbor Diane’s house. She was outside tending her garden on the side of the house.

“Hey Diane!” I waved as I approached. We didn’t know each other well but were friendly.

“Hey there Tanya. Say can you come help me with these green beans?”

“Of course!” I walked through the gate over to the garden and started helping her pick the beans.

“What brings you by?” She asked.

“I have a question that I’m a little embarrassed to ask”, I said. “Since I’ve lived here, I keeping seeing a clown, but that can’t be right, right? Do you see it?”

“Oh honey that’s just Bob! Wouldn’t hurt a fly. You know he started the mini community library? Great guy. Don’t pay attention to what he’s got on. Who knows why he does it, no one’s asked. But he’s really a sweetheart”. _You have got to be kidding me_, I thought. _This can’t be real_.

But it was. And it got even more real. Later that evening, I received a knock on the door. It was Pennywise, I mean Bob. I tried to calm my panic, because I didn’t want to make him feel bad, since the others were so convinced he was so swell. I opened the door.

“Hi can I help you?” I tried my best to give a convincing smile.

“Hi I’m Bob, your neighbor from down the street”, he almost whispered. “I was trying to give you time to get settled before I introduced myself. I know I’m not all the way…..conventional”, he sort of chuckled. I couldn’t help but chuckle as well.

“Well thank you for coming by, Bob. My name is Tanya, it’s nice to meet you”

“Wonderful to meet you as well. Hey I’m throwing a barbecue tomorrow, just a little neighborly get together. I’d love it if you came”,

“I just might, thank you so much for the invite” I managed.

“No problem. Ok well let me go on back home. Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye now!” And he left. Did I judge too quickly? He DOES seem like a nice guy. I guess time will tell…..