Then Someone Mentioned The HOA

Kevin asked:

“Doesn’t the HOA have a rule about this?”

Everyone went quiet.

Nobody knew.

Eric went inside and searched the neighborhood handbook.

There was a rule.

Trash bins could not obstruct a driveway.

But there was also another rule.

Residents were supposed to place bins in front of their own lot whenever reasonably possible.

Eric walked back outside holding his phone.

He showed Melissa.

She read it.

Her expression changed.

Eric said:

“So can we be done with this?”

Melissa replied:

“No.”

Eric laughed.

“Why?”

“Because you still moved my trash before collection.”

Melissa Said The Bins Weren’t The Real Issue

That surprised him.

She explained that months earlier, when she had first started putting the bins near Eric’s house, she had asked a sanitation worker where to leave them.

According to Melissa, he told her that the truck had trouble maneuvering around the curve near her house.

He suggested moving them farther down the street.

Eric asked:

“Why didn’t you tell me that?”

Melissa answered:

“Because the first few times you didn’t care.”

“I cared when you started blocking the driveway.”

“I didn’t think I was blocking it.”

Eric pointed toward the driveway.

“You were.”

Melissa said:

“Not completely.”

Eric stared at her.

“So partially blocking someone’s driveway is fine?”

“No.”

“But that’s what you just said.”

Melissa became frustrated.

“That isn’t what I meant.”