The neighbors: Leona and Bill (I think) Wheeler. How 'bout that. It finally came to me. They had two boys who were pre-teens at the time. They continued being wonderful neighbors.
Now, let me tell you about the apartment. The community was a series of duplexes, and the Wheelers lived in the building next to us. It took a while to get acquainted with the couple who lived on the other side of our duplex. But I wander.
The apartment: The front door gave on to the living/dining room, with the kitchen to the left. There was a hallway to the bedrooms and bathroom. The single wall heater was in the hallway, and when winter came we found that it did absolutely nothing to heat anything but the bedrooms. The floors were covered with brown and speckled linoleum (ugh). The kitchen was small, but very efficient. Surprisingly, there was adequate cupboard space, and a good size linen closet in the hallway. Oh, yes, and draperies came with the windows.
There were no fences, so there was no such thing as a back yard or front yard. There was a small patch of grass between the sidewalk and the building, and I remember there was a banana plant outside. It never produced any bananas for the few months we lived in the apartment, but it had big pretty leaves on it.
Stevie was four years old by this time, and a wanderer. It wasn't long before he knew everyone in the neighborhood and even found another boy his age to play with. When I went knocking on doors and asking "Have you seen a little blond boy with blue eyes...." "Oh, you mean Stevie? He was here a little while ago, but he went to so-and-so's place." When I finally caught up with him, I had knocked on probably a dozen doors.
I wasn't too worried because we lived on a side street and the neighborhood was safe, but we did come to sort of an agreement that he would tell me where he was going. Usually (but not always) that's where I'd find him when I went looking.
I don't believe that child ever met a stranger. He's a grown man now, still friendly, a sense of humor that cracks me up, and still a wanderer. He's temporarily settled now, but it won't surprise me when I find out he's taken off "that-away" again.
Next: more about Pasadena