My Neighbor Charged Her EV at My House Every Night—She Never Expected What I Did Next.
is.”
She leaned against the door.
“Eleanor, you barely use any electricity.”
I stared at her.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You live alone.”
The sentence came out so casually that I almost missed how insulting it was.
“You’re retired. I’ve got kids. I drive everywhere. I’m just saying your house isn’t exactly consuming huge amounts.”
“So whatever I don’t use belongs to you?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It is exactly what you said.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Fine. What do you want? Twenty dollars?”
“No.”
“Thirty?”
“I want you to stop plugging your vehicle into my home.”
“I said the charger at my house is broken.”
“Then repair it.”
“That takes time.”
“Then use a public station.”
“Those cost money.”
I almost smiled.
“Yes.”
She realized what she had admitted.
For once, Vanessa had nothing to say.
I continued.
“And I want my fox back.”
She blinked.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing.”
I smiled.
“I’m simply remembering several unfinished conversations.”
Her face tightened.
“Fine.”
“Also, please stop putting trash into my bin.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“And tell the children not to ride across my flower beds.”
“They’re kids.”
“They can be kids on your side of the property line.”
Vanessa stared at me.
Then laughed bitterly.
“Wow.”
“What?”
“I didn’t realize you were this petty.”
There it was.
The word people use when somebody they have been taking advantage of finally starts counting.
I nodded.
“Good morning, Vanessa.”
Then I went home.
For four days, nothing happened.
The fox returned.
He appeared beside my mailbox one morning with his scarf still painted white.
No apology.
The trash stopped.
The children used the sidewalk.
My electricity usage went down.
I thought perhaps the matter was finished.
Then Friday night came.
At eleven forty-three,
