"Nextdoor" by Friar Dave (friar.dave@teamhbbs.com). The single father comes home from work early and discovers his only child Jan, who is 12-years-old, in the shower with Marty, the much older physical fitness instructor who lives next door. Eavesdropping briefly, the father concludes that the activities in the shower include anal intercourse. Since he doesn't want to traumatize his child, the father decides to wait until they're finished and confront them.

As I read this story, I grew suspicious. Friar Dave is a good, creative author, and this story bordered on the banal. I began to consider the possibility that maybe there was a punch line - maybe things weren't what they seemed to be. Maybe the father had jumped to the wrong conclusion and taken me with him- maybe the child and friend were just giving the dog a bath or something. So I tried to read the story with possible innocent meanings in mind.

I was right. Things weren't what I thought they were. But I still missed the surprise ending. Maybe you'll have better luck. It was an enjoyable story.