That night. Mark and Lisa are in bed. Lisa whispers, “He’s weird, but harmless, right?” Mark shrugs. “Just a loner.” From their window, they see John Persons’s silhouette standing perfectly still in his backyard. Facing their house. Not moving for three hours.
“The old neighbors knew the rules. Wave, but don’t talk. Mow on Sunday, not Saturday. Never, ever look in the basement windows after 9 p.m.” The Neighbors John Persons Comics
Flashback: A moving truck. A young couple— Mark and Lisa —unpacking boxes labeled “KITCHEN” and “LIVING ROOM.” They smile at John Persons, who is watching from his porch. He gives a small, almost invisible nod. That night
Mark finds the charter online. Rule 47: “Neighbors shall not engage John Persons in conversation regarding weather, sports, or casseroles.” Rule 48: “Neighbors shall leave one (1) unopened can of sweet corn on their front porch every Friday evening.” Rule 49: “Neighbors who break Rules 47–48 will be ‘neighborly visited.’” “Just a loner
Mark runs outside. Every other house on the cul-de-sac has a single can of corn on the porch. Gleaming. Untouched. John Persons stands on his own porch, hedge clippers in hand. He clips the air once. Snip.