Some people show their true selves when you least expect it. For me, it came when my neighbor<\/p>\n
filled in my cherished pond while I was away, not knowing the fierce response he\u2019d spark.<\/p>\n
I may seem like a quiet older woman, but I had a plan that turned his world upside down.<\/p>\n
At 74, I\u2019ve seen plenty of neighborhood drama. But nothing prepared me for the chaos that unfolded in my own backyard.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m Agnes, and I\u2019ve lived in this snug little house for twenty years. It\u2019s been my haven, where<\/p>\n
I raised three kids and now host my six grandkids for summer games and weekend picnics. There\u2019s always someone stopping by, bringing joy and chatter.<\/p>\n
The heart of my property? A lovely pond my great-grandpa carved out long ago. It\u2019s been the soul of our family gatherings for years.<\/p>\n
My grandkids adore splashing in it, and sometimes I think they love that pond more than they love my cookies!<\/p>\n
Everything was fine until Derek moved in next door five years ago. From the start, that man had a problem with my pond.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgnes!\u201d he\u2019d shout over the fence. \u201cThose frogs are driving me nuts at night! Cannot you quiet them down?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019d chuckle and say, \u201cOh, Derek, they\u2019re crooning you a bedtime tune. No charge!\u201d<\/p>\n
But he wasn\u2019t amused. \u201cAnd the bugs! Your pond\u2019s a breeding ground for them!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, Derek,\u201d I\u2019d reply, \u201cI keep that pond spotless. Those bugs are probably from that pile of clutter in your yard.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019d grumble and stomp off, but I\u2019d carry on. I thought he\u2019d get over it, but I was mistaken.<\/p>\n
One day, I decided to visit my cousin across state lines for a few days of catching up and card games.<\/p>\n
I was excited for some laughter and relaxation. But I came back to a sight that froze my heart.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Some people show their true selves when you least expect it. For me, it came when my neighbor filled in my cherished pond while I was away,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance"],"yoast_head":"\n