Camilla believed she was just being a good neighbor when she let Claire borrow a few things. First, it was a garden hose. Then a ladder. Then her outdoor grill station when she and her family weren’t home. Just simple acts of kindness, or so she thought.
She never imagined she was about to be taken advantage of in such an extreme way.
When Claire and her 16-year-old son, Adam, moved in six months ago, they seemed friendly and polite. Claire, in her 40s, exchanged pleasantries and made small talk about the neighborhood. Camilla assumed she’d be the kind of neighbor who kept to herself.
That changed one weekend when Camilla and her husband, David, took the kids to visit her parents. They planned to be gone for two days, enjoying a short getaway before the busy weeks ahead.
When they returned, Camilla stepped into the backyard and felt her stomach drop.
The space was unrecognizable. Litter covered the area, potted plants were overturned, and the grill station was left in complete disarray. The kids’ toys were scattered across the lawn, making the entire scene look like a chaotic mess.
Camilla stood frozen, trying to process the situation.
Taking a deep breath, she stormed next door and knocked. Claire answered in pajamas, appearing completely unbothered.
“Oh, yeah,” she said with a laugh. “That was Adam’s birthday party. You know how kids are.”
Camilla blinked. Did she not see the mess left behind?
“My backyard isn’t a public park,” Camilla said, her voice tense. “You could have at least cleaned up.”
Continue reading on next page…