The Bins Came Back the Following Week
Thursday morning.
Same location.
This time Eric took a photo.
He moved the bin and left for work.
The following week, the bins were back again.
So Eric spoke to Melissa.
“Can you keep them away from the driveway?”
Melissa pointed toward the curb.
“The garbage company told me to leave space between the bins.”
“That’s fine.”
“And I don’t have enough curb on my side.”
Eric looked at her house.
“You have a whole side street.”
Melissa shook her head.
“The truck doesn’t always come down that side.”
Eric replied:
“Then put them in front of your driveway.”
Melissa frowned.
“Why should I block my own driveway?”
Eric stared at her.
“That is literally what I’m asking you.”
That Conversation Changed Their Relationship
Until then, Eric and Melissa had been friendly.
They waved.
They collected each other’s packages occasionally.
Eric had even helped Melissa move a heavy patio table the previous summer.
After the trash argument, they mostly stopped talking.
The bins, however, kept appearing.
Sometimes they were near his driveway.
Sometimes they were completely clear.
Eric started wondering whether Melissa was doing it deliberately.
Melissa later insisted she wasn’t.
She said the garbage truck sometimes left the bins in different positions after emptying them.
Eric didn’t fully believe her.
