When I agreed to let my new neighbor Claire use my backyard barbecue, I never imagined I’d return to a warzone. My husband David and I came back from a weekend trip to find our patio littered with beer bottles, grease stains, and overturned plants – the aftermath of her teenage son’s birthday bash.
“Kids will be kids,” Claire shrugged when I confronted her, suggesting I simply hose down the mess. Fuming, I presented her with three reasonable rules about respecting my property. The next morning, I found her response taped to my door – a ridiculous list of demands governing everything from my grilling times to sharing my garden hose and driveway!
The final straw came when my daughter showed me TikTok videos of Claire’s son Adam partying in our yard. I posted the evidence online, and within days the video went viral. With help from internet strangers, I installed a tall fence that finally ended Claire’s backyard takeover. The best part? Watching her realize the court of public opinion had ruled against her entitlement.
