I knew trouble was coming when Shannon moved in next door. She started her bad behaviour by painting her house bright colours. Things got worse when she started lying in the sun in bikinis outside my 15-year-old son Jake’s window.
I tried to solve the problem peacefully, but Shannon responded by putting a dirty toilet on my lawn and making a rude sign next to it. The lines of battle were set.
Shannon didn’t give up on her sunbathing plans. She kept asking friends and throwing loud parties. Knowing that fate would step in, I chose to sit back.
And step in it did. Firefighters who were reacting to a false report of a sewage leak were distracted by Shannon’s antics. It was clear that she was embarrassed.
The last straw was when Shannon fell off her roof while sunbathing and hit her petunias in the mud. The event put an end to her role as an exhibitionist.
Shannon’s yard was now quiet because of the protection fence that was put up. The story of our suburban play was over.
“Is it safe to come out of witness protection now?” Jake carefully opened his blinds and asked.
I smiled, feeling better. “Okay, honey. The show is no longer happening. Without a doubt.”
We laughed heartily, glad that Shannon’s beach problems were over.
