Bad Neighbor Update

All my regular readers know that I live next door to the Rudes, the most inconsiderate neighbors anyone could be cursed with.  But, before I address them, I want to exonerate my neighbor Marcia who lives on the other side of me.

You might remember that she was the one whose guests at Christmas drove not only into my driveway, but also parked right up next to my garage door!  And when one left, another took his place!  All this without my permission.  And the only reason I didn’t take action was because it was Christmas day, and I didn’t want to be Scroogy.  Well!  The other day Marcia called me out of the blue, and said she had a favor to ask.  (This was where I got an evil little grin on my face and started rubbing my hands together, thinking, “What goes around, comes around, Sister!  Nyah, ah, ah!”) It seems she had applied for a government job and had to list a neighbor as a reference, and had put down my name.  She wanted to know if I would confirm that she lived there, etc.  (I took a moment to savor my power!) Then, I told her I would, but that I wanted to “clear the air about something.”  Now, I had assumed that she couldn’t have helped but know that her guests had parked in my driveway, but, when I told her about it, she truly sounded mortified.  She said she had twelve guests and had instructed them where to park.  She said that she was sorry and that if it ever happened again, no matter when, to call her and she would take action immediately.  So, what could I do but forgive her?  But, mark my words, if it does happen again, I WILL call!

Now, onto the Rudes…specifically, Ms. Rude, (that’s her on the left,) who seems to be the instigator of the bad behavior next door.  She’s the only person in my four-family town home unit who puts her trash out the night before trash day.  I think that I’ve forgotten to mention that she puts her trash, which always consists of a great many bags and assorted junk, in front of my townhouse rather than her own.  I have no idea why, if not to annoy me. Anyway,  this time she must have had some kind of garbage in the bag because during the night critters tore it open and pulled out a chicken carcass along with a bunch of other stuff.  After the trash men had taken the trash, there remained the carcass and an assorted collection of nasty used tissues, paper towels, pieces of cardboard, etc.  And where you might ask was all this unattractive garbage?  In front of  MY house, naturally!

Now you must understand that I am a tidy person.  Whenever I see that some piece of litter has blown into my yard, I go out and pick it up because I am simply not comfortable having my yard look trashy.  But this time I decided not to.  I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.  I’d wait until she came home from work, because, surely, she’d see that stuff and be embarrassed and go out and pick it up!  Wouldn’t she?  As the evening progressed, I noticed that some dog had taken the carcass away, but the other stuff remained…and remained…and remained.  So…at 5:00 the next morning, when I went out to get my morning paper, I took out a whisk broom.  I marched right up to that mess and literally swept it over to her side of the yard!

Now I know what you’re saying – that I must have looked ridiculous out there with my little broom sweeping garbage in the dark.  You probably think I acted childishly.  You probably think I really wanted to get back at her.  Well,  guilty-guilty-guilty!

But, you know what?  Damned if it didn’t feel GOOD!!!