A New Development
She’d warned her neighbor not to park his son’s truck in her driveway twice now. The first time he did it, she had him remove it immediately. The second time was a carbon copy of the first.
But when she got home from the emergency room that night and found the truck in her driveway, she knew it was time to live up to her promise.
Life In Arlington
Alicia Holloway was your ordinary single mom living in Arlington, Virginia. She’d worked hard to get everything she had, and her life was comfortable.
She lived with her two sons in a friendly, quiet neighborhood. Her house was beautifully large and at the end of the cul de sac. She enjoyed the peace that came with the community until her new neighbors moved in.
New Neighbors
At first glance, Alicia's neighbors were your typical upper-middle-class family. They had four grown-up sons, three of which drove their cars alongside their parents.
The lastborn, a teenager in high school, didn't have a car. But one afternoon, everything took a drastic turn, ushering the worst neighborhood experience for Alicia and her family.
Earth Shaking Sound
Alicia was hanging out in her backyard one afternoon, listening to a chapter from her favorite audiobook, when she heard the ground shake.
A loud growl rented the air, prompting her to take off her earbuds. The ground shook again, a truck's engine, as loud as an aircraft, breaking the afternoon's peace. What was going on?
Brightly Colored
Like any curious mind, Alicia set everything aside and hurried around the house. She expected her neighbors to be bringing in more furniture when she saw it.
A massive, brightly colored truck was pulling up into the neighbor's driveway. Of course, Alicia paid it no mind. She returned to listening to her audiobook, unaware of the trouble already brewing.
The Problems Are Here
The afternoon went well enough for Alicia. But everything changed when evening came. She walked into the house to find one of her sons, her lastborn, under the weather.
She set to tending to him, figuring out he had a fever and mild chest pains. But as nightfall finally took the neighborhood, the issues secretly taking root between her and her new neighbors would come for her.
Trouble Arrives
As the clock read 8 PM, Alicia heard a knock on her front door. She hurried over only to meet her neighbor. The man smiled at Alicia and apologized for bothering her at night.
"It's nothing," Alicia answered. But she also apologized for not welcoming him in. She explained her son's sickness and her worries over it being contagious. The man nodded in understanding. "I have a favor to ask," he said.
She Would Help If She Could
"Sure," Alicia said. "How can I help you?" Although Alicia didn't know much about her new neighbors, she'd made an effort to at least introduce herself and her sons when they moved in.
Although she loved to stay indoors after work, she had a great relationship with everyone in the cul de sac. If her neighbors needed anything within her reach, she would help.
It's A Birthday Present
"My son just turned sixteen," the man smiled. "I'm sure you saw the truck we bought him." "I did!" Alicia exclaimed. "It's such a pretty truck. Quite big. Does he like it?"
"Yes, he does," her neighbor said. "It's what he wanted. It's so big, and that's what I wanted to talk to you about." At Alicia's nod, he revealed something that left her stunned.
A Request Like No Other
"We were wondering if we could use your driveway for the truck. We've been getting complaints from the other neighbors that it's so big they can't get around it."
Alicia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Each house in the neighborhood had a garage, a driveway, and ample space on the street for parking. She hoped the neighbor would understand her view.
It's Quite Big
"I would like to help," Alicia began. "But the truck is quite big, and I need my driveway at least four times a day."
She detailed her daily activities that warranted her use of the driveway, stating that although she'd love to help, the request was beyond her. But the man took it as a challenge, opening a can of worms Alicia wasn't ready for.
A Small Car
"You drive a small car," the man said. "You can park it outside for now until I come up with a better alternative." Still, Alicia refused. Irritated, the man asked her to be a considerate neighbor.
Alicia would have heard him out, but there was this authority in his voice that made it sound like he was giving her no option on the matter. Did he decide that he was going to park in her driveway despite her decision?
She's Adamant
"I use my driveway when I leave and come home," Alicia said with finality. "I can't access my garage without it. I also have issues with depth perception, and your son's truck is so big I am afraid I might scratch it."
The neighbor tried to insist, but Alicia wouldn't budge. The discussion became heated, and seeing that this wasn't going anywhere, Alicia wished the man goodnight.
She Takes Precautions
Alicia returned to her son, bringing him soup to soothe his pain. But as she sat by his side, listening to him talk about his interests, she thought about what the man would do.
Hoping to avoid any splashback when trouble came, she did the only thing she could at the moment. She pulled her laptop, ready to set things straight.
The First Email
Alicia emailed the homeowner's association about the matter before it escalated as a cautionary step. She then went to bed.
She woke up ready for work the next day. She prepared her boys for school, and they all hopped into her car. But when she rolled up her garage door, she couldn't believe what was standing imposingly behind them.
He Didn't Listen
The truck was blocking Alicia and her kids. Fuming, Alicia took photos of the vehicle on her property. She went to knock on her neighbor's door.
The man opened, a surprised look on his face as if he couldn't see the brightly colored Ford on Alicia's driveway. Alicia didn't even speak. She only motioned at the vehicle with a grimace.
A Stern Warning
The neighbor called his son to remove the truck. But before Alicia left, she warned him and his dad that she'd have the vehicle towed if they parked in her driveway again.
She updated the HOA on the situation and headed to work. But later that night, her heart dropped when she pulled around the corner and looked at her driveway.
Pushing Her Buttons
The truck was parked exactly where it was in the morning, blocking Alicia's garage. She stomped over to her neighbor's house. The neighbor's wife received her this time, rudely asking why Alicia was disrupting her family's dinner.
Alicia calmly asked her to have her son remove his vehicle from her property. She also issued the same warning she had in the morning.
It Doesn't Stop
But when Alicia got in the house, she found her son's condition had worsened. She quickly strapped him into the car and headed to the emergency room.
She spent hours at the hospital, waiting for the doctors to tell her what was wrong. After a long wait, her son's results were out. They would leave Alicia in tears.
The Problems Keep Coming
The week had started well for Alicia. But the issue with the neighbor's truck was getting to her. To add to that, her son had suddenly fallen ill.
Alicia didn't know what to make of the latter of the two. She loved her kids dearly and felt pain whenever any of them was in any distress. Alicia bit her tongue as the doctor walked in with her lastborn's test results.
The Diagnosis
"Pneumonia," the doctor declared. But he promised Alicia that the disease was still in its early stages. With proper care, her son could beat it.
The doctor prescribed a few pills, and Alicia and her son went home. She wiped her tears with relief, seeing that her son's condition was manageable and her neighbors finally respected her. She had no idea what was happening back home.
Everything's Okay
Alicia's son's diagnosis was not as severe as she'd thought, and soon they were on their way back home. But as they drove up to their neighborhood, a familiar sight greeted them.
The large, brightly colored truck was in Alicia's driveway again, glinting in the dark as Alicia's headlights struck it. Knowing she'd tried to play fair, she decided enough was enough.
Sweet Revenge
Alicia took more photos and videos of the truck and updated the HOV. She also called a 24-hour tow truck service. It was an hour past midnight, but the tow truck arrived and got to work.
With that part done, Alicia put her kids to sleep, prepared for the next day, and soon retired to bed. The consequence of her actions would wake her up in the morning.
Waking Her Up
A loud thump and insistent bell ringing woke Alicia up the following day. She didn't need to guess who it was. But she found it a bit difficult getting out of bed.
Her throat was sore, and her nostrils were blocked. She ate back a curse as she realized she had contracted the flu from being outside at night. But that would be the least of her problems.
They Can't Touch Her
"How can I help you?" Alicia asked sweetly, but the two glared at her. "You stole our truck," her neighbor barked. "Go ahead,” Alicia answered, smiling. “In the meantime, I’m sick and going back to bed."
Her neighbor formed a fist, seemingly controlling himself. "I will sue you," he hissed, but Alicia still held her smile. She had all the protection she needed if this case went to court.
Sending The Evidence
Alicia had taken several photos and videos of the truck on her property. She also updated the home owner's association on every new development.
Each piece of evidence would come to her aid if her neighbor were to do something to her. But she wouldn't sit around and let it go to that. What she said next made the man freeze.
They Learn Their Lesson
"Go ahead. I might just press charges for trespassing," Alicia said. "I have evidence: photos, videos, and emails." She was even recording this conversation as it was happening.
"If you want your vehicle, you can find it at the tow truck yard." With that, Alicia closed the door and returned upstairs. She hoped her neighbor knew he'd kicked the hornet's nest. But this was far from over.
Updating The Hoa
After shooting the HOA an update email, Alicia went to her son’s room to check on him. He was still asleep, so she closed the door and hurried to her other son’s room.
She also found him asleep and woke him up with a gentle shake. The boy came with a whine, not knowing what her mom was about to tell him.
Everybody’s Under The Weather
“How are you feeling?” Alicia asked him. If she had a cold, chances were that he did too. He tried to talk but rubbed his neck first, coughing before clearing his throat.
He didn’t need to say a word. Alicia could tell he, too, was under the weather. Placing a gentle kiss on his head, she informed him he wouldn’t be going to school and should get comfortable. She was about to do the same thing.
They’re Far From Done With Her
Alicia thought she was done with her neighbor for the day when the doorbell rang again. She walked downstairs and saw him and his son standing on her porch.
“Not again,” she whispered and turned to walk upstairs. The doorbell kept ringing at intervals for close to ten minutes before her neighbor finally gave up. Would he leave her alone now?
Rationalizing Everything
Alicia lay in bed, wondering if towing the truck was too much on her part. She tried to rationalize everything, to step back and look at her situation objectively.
She’d told her neighbor not to park in her driveway as she needed it when leaving her house. She’d also warned him several times that she’d tow the vehicle. So was this her fault?
Bigger Things To Worry About
Alicia pulled the cover over her head and closed her eyes. She had better things to worry about. She’d already called in sick at work and phoned her kids’ school to inform them that her boys weren’t feeling well.
She’d check up on the kids in an hour or so, but she needed to rest for now. But about thirty minutes later, her doorbell started ringing again.
Getting Out Of Bed
With her molars grinding against each other, Alicia threw her covers away and jumped out of bed. She really wasn’t in the mood to deal with her neighbor’s disrespect today.
She put on her robe and slowly shuffled out of her room. Her joints ached, and her head felt heavy. She would give her neighbor a piece of her mind when she opened the door. If only she knew who was waiting for her.
He Called 911
The first thing Alicia saw when she rounded the corner to her stairs was a police badge shining in the morning sun. Her neighbor was grinning behind the police officer, ringing the doorbell.
Alicia stopped in her tracks, not believing that her neighbor could stoop so low. Her heart thumped in her ears as she wondered what would happen next. Would the police arrest her?
Opening The Door
Alicia took a deep breath and unlocked the door. “Officer,” she smiled with a curt nod, extending the gesture to greet her neighbor.
But the man didn’t bother to say hi back. He went straight to the point, asking the police to arrest Alicia for stealing his vehicle. He should have known who he was dealing with.
Engaging The Police
“Good morning, ma’am,” the police began. “Sorry to bother you, but we had a report from your neighbor. He stated that you “stole” his son’s truck by having it towed from the street. We need to talk to you about this issue.”
Alicia had to stifle a sigh as she realized her neighbor conveniently left out specific parts of the story.
Her Side Of The Story
“My neighbor is only telling you half the story,” Alicia said calmly. “I had his truck towed last night from MY driveway when I returned home from a minor emergency.”
She blew into a handkerchief, “I couldn’t get into my driveway, and I have already told him twice that he and his family can’t park on my property.” But she didn’t stop there.
Spilling The Beans
“This issue started last week,” she continued. “I have emails to my HOA, pictures of his truck parked in my driveway this morning, and a video of my neighbor’s visit this morning, where he called me names and told me he was going to sue me and call the police.”
Her neighbor’s face paled when she said, “I can show you if you would like.”
A Few Days Ago
“Yes,” answered the officer. “So, the truck in question was on your property without your permission, and you had it towed?”
“Yes,” said Alicia. “A few days ago, he asked if I would allow his son to park in my driveway. I told him no, and he got mad at me. Then yesterday, when I was leaving, I discovered his son had parked in my driveway, and I couldn’t leave my garage.”
Why She Had The Truck Towed
“I went over and demanded they remove the vehicle, and I told them then that I would have the truck towed if they parked on my property again. I came home late this morning, and the truck was in my driveway – so I had it towed.”
“I just want to confirm,” the officer said. “You say it wasn’t parked on the street but in your driveway. And you have proof of this?”
I Have The Evidence
“Yes, sir,” Alicia answered. “If you give me a minute, I will print off the emails that I sent to the HOA that documents the issues, and I will also show you the pictures.”
Alicia brought everything, and the officer went through them. He took a few photos of her driveway and the street before asking if she could forward the emails and pictures to the station. Hearing this, Alicia’s neighbor stomped off.
Enough Information
“I have enough information for my files to determine that the vehicle was not on public property and was, in fact, on your property,” the officer said. “I’ve noted that you did not permit the vehicle to be parked on the property.”
“Based on the emails you gave me with dates and times, you did advise your neighbor not to park on your property. Would you like to file a trespassing report for this incident?
Updating The Hoa
“Not at the moment,” Alicia said. She was too tired to fill out forms and the like. But she would if she found the truck on her property again.
She got in touch with the HOA, telling them her neighbor had come to wake her up in the morning. She also shared her plans to press charges if he parked in her driveway again. But it wouldn't reach midday before the intended effects of her plan began manifesting themselves.
The Hoa
Alicia received a response from the HOA. They apologized for everything she and her family had gone through, asking her if she was open to seeing them first before pressing any charges.
They assured her she was in the right, owing to all the information she'd sent their way. They were ready to back her if she wanted to take her neighbor to court.
Repercussion
The HOA called a meeting, which Alicia and her neighbor attended. They reprimanded the man for his unsavory behavior, stating that whatever financial reach he thought he had meant nothing here.
The man apologized for everything, and even though Alicia didn't press charges, he never parked the large truck in her driveway again.
Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.