My name is Amy. We moved into our new house in November of last year with my partner, Zach. Sarah, a single mother, and her two boys, Richard and Bill, who are twelve and seven years old, are our neighbors. Sarah was incredibly kind and inviting when we initially moved in. Occasionally, her boys would greet us as well. That was short-lived.
Although the property and area are wonderful, the recent weather hasn’t been too sunny. But things have improved recently, and there have been a few warm days. Zach and I were sitting in our yard on an especially lovely Sunday a few weekends ago. Next door, in their yard, we could hear Sarah’s children playing. We were unconcerned until a stream of water breached the barrier and struck me directly in the face.
“Zach!” I cried aloud while dabbing at my tears.
Zach raised his head, perplexed. “What took place?”
“Water,” I whispered, my eyes burning. “Why is water appearing out of nowhere?”
Just then, a second water jet blasted over the fence, striking our plants and backyard furniture. Before it got too wet, we hurried to bring our books and the remainder of our small lunch inside.
I made the decision to head upstairs to find out what was going on on Sarah’s end while the water continued to sometimes fly over the fence. I watched her two sons through the window as they sprayed our garden from over the fence with their enormous water pistols.
I ran back down the steps. “Zach, look! It’s Bill and Rich with water pistols! And they continue to do it!
Zach was calling over from the barrier already. “Richard! Bill! Please stop misting this area with water!
The lads fell silent and vanished. But they were back at it in less than two minutes, right as Zach was drying himself and heading into the kitchen to get his book. The jets of water came at us nonstop.
I exhaled. “This is becoming absurd.”
Zach gave a nod. “I’ll go speak with Sarah.”
He turned and knocked on Sarah’s front door. She seemed flustered as she responded after a second.
She said, “Hello, Zach.” “Is everything in order?”
“Hi Sarah,” Zach answered. The lads are sprinkling water onto our garden from across the fence. Could you ask them to cease?
Sarah scowled. “Oh, I apologize so much. I will speak with them immediately.
Zach came back to our garden. “She promised to speak with them,”
With the hope that it would stop there, I nodded. However, the water jets restarted a little while later.
I said, “This is unbelievable.” “They simply won’t give up.”
Zach gave a sigh. “Perhaps I ought to try speaking with the boys directly.”
He returned to the barrier and made another call. Please stop sprinkling water onto our garden, Richard and Bill. It isn’t polite.
The sounds of the boys wafted in. Richard said, “But it’s fun!”
“We’re only having fun!” Bill continued.
Zach made an effort to remain composed. “I get what you mean, but it’s soaking our plants and furnishings. Find something else to do, please.
There was quiet for a moment. “All right,” Richard grudgingly said.
We listened as we waited. It appeared as though they had finally ceased for a brief while. However, a second water jet blasted beyond the barrier.
I raised my hands in exasperation. “Now what do we do?”
Zach had a contemplative expression. “Perhaps we should speak with Sarah once again. She had previously appeared understanding.
The lads’ persistent practice of splattering water over the fence was annoying us both. I went next door and rang the ring this time. I informed Sarah, who responded, that her children were always sprinkling water over our fence. I had assumed she would be understanding, as she had been with Zach, but she appeared quite hurt.
“You’re exaggerating, Amy,” she remarked, crossing her arms. “They’re just children acting like kids.”
I attempted to elaborate further, but she interrupted me. “Look, I’m not going to regulate my kids’ play; I’ll tell them to stop one more time. Since it’s only water, nothing bad will happen.
I have to admit that I’m not good in confrontations. I had assumed she would be understanding, but her answer left me speechless. I became rather frozen as a result. I just went home once Sarah shut the door behind me after a little moment of waiting.
Zach and I had opted to watch a movie instead, but before we shut our back door for the day, I saw that my garland made of lights that hung above our garden table had been completely ruined by the water. I sighed, let it dangle, and headed inside.
I made the decision to have a garden party for all of the neighbors a few days after this altercation. I kept Sarah in the dark, but I told everyone it was a kid’s water gun party. Sarah came fully made up, sporting a party dress and cosmetics. She was soaked to the bone as soon as she entered the garden because the children went straight after her.
“How in the world?” Sarah gasped and looked around, startled.
I tried not to smile as I responded, “Oh, it’s just water.” It does not cause harm. I must have neglected to remind you to pack a change of dry clothing.
Sarah hurried out of the gathering, looking embarrassed. The children kept playing, and it appeared that everyone else was having fun. Although I was happy that the lads were no longer making trouble, I also felt a bit guilty.
Abruptly, Sarah reappeared, dressed more casually now, carrying a fresh garland filled with lights. She approached me directly.
She handed the garland to me and said, “Here.” “Maybe now that it’s so dark here, the boys will be able to see better who they’re shooting water guns at.”
Her nonchalant approach to the issue made me chuckle uncontrollably. “Many thanks, Sarah. Thank you very much.
Sarah grinned and nodded. Please, no hurt emotions. Children are harmless even if they can be a pain in the neck.
Naturally, I replied, feeling the stress release. “Let’s have fun at the party.”
The remainder of the night passed without a hitch. The parents laughed and spoke as the children played with their water pistols. Sarah and I became closer as the sun sank and the fresh garland lights twinkled.
I may have overreacted the other day, you know. It’s been difficult to handle things on your own.
“I comprehend,” I said. Everybody has their times. To be honest, I respect you for being a single parent to the boys. They’re also decent kids.
With a smile on her face, we exchanged glasses. Excuse the pun, but her boys were having a ton of fun with their water pistols, and Zach and I even got to meet more of our neighbors.
Honestly, this is the precise close-knit community we were searching for. And I can credit two mischievous people with water cannons for that.
How may you have responded to this?