I lived a peaceful life on Maple Street, where I had a friendly understanding with my neighbors, Jim and Susan. We agreed to build a fence for some privacy. It wasn’t anything formal—just a handshake deal.
I went ahead and built the fence right near the property line, and Jim and Susan were happy about it. They got the benefits of the fence without spending a single penny.
About a year ago, Jim and Susan sold their house, and a city realtor named Kayla moved in. Not long after she settled in, she had a land surveyor come by and mark the property boundaries. That’s when the trouble started. Kayla knocked on my door and, with a stern look, said, “Your fence is nine inches over my property line. You need to move it or pay for the land.”
I didn’t have anything in writing to back up my agreement with Jim and Susan, so I had no choice. Reluctantly, I tore down the fence.
Just a week later, Kayla showed up at my door again, but this time she looked upset. “Please,” she pleaded, “can you rebuild the fence? My dog, Duke, needs it to stay safe.” I couldn’t believe the change in her tone. But after the way she had treated me before, I wasn’t feeling generous. I refused to help.
Kayla tried to manage without the fence by putting up a flimsy bamboo barrier. But Duke, her big, playful dog, wasn’t having it. He easily broke through the barrier, causing all sorts of chaos.
The worst was during a neighborhood garage sale when Duke escaped and her purse got stolen in the commotion. Everyone else found the situation amusing, but it was clear Kayla was having a hard time.
She tried everything to keep Duke under control, but nothing worked. One evening, she came back to me, practically begging.
“I’ll pay for it,” she offered, “just please rebuild the fence.” Though I felt a bit sorry for her, I stayed firm. I wasn’t about to put up the fence again.
Eventually, I decided to sell my house and find peace in a new place. Moving away brought me the tranquility I had been missing since Kayla moved in.
Now, when I share this story with friends, it always gets a good laugh. It’s a reminder that sometimes, life has a funny way of balancing things out, even when you least expect it.
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