If I have the inbox showing and the background showing the email to read, how can I close the background of the mail so just the inbox is show and you don't see the full email?
I'm wanting to only view the subjects and senders sometimes without seeing or being able to read the emails at certain times.....you know, prying eyes and all.

You can't.

How about this. Send yourself a blank email and leave it in your inbox. When you are worried about prying eyes, select it. Then you can scroll around to you hearts content, as long as you don't select another email.