Relaxation Interrupted
His driveway was stormed by a woman cursing him as she walked up. It didn’t matter to her who was watching. Using the sign board as a weapon, she bashed it hard into the grass, making holes in the process.
Others were watching her, but they were too scared to intervene. She was destroying the front yard of his house. Would someone stop her?
Unforeseen Events
On a sunny Saturday morning, Alan Bricks awoke to find a bright white “For Sale” sign in his front yard. Squinting at it, he wondered how such an error could have occurred.
An arrow pointed towards the house next door on the “For Sale” sign in the man’s front yard took him by surprise. Who was selling what?
Following The Sign
On the weekend, he wanted to sleep in, but was forced to get up and investigate. In his neighborhood, he followed the arrow on the sign, winding through the suburban streets.
One house was crowded with people. Bewildered, he investigated, his curiosity overriding his morning sluggishness. Why were they all there?
Down The Road
He was a 50-year-old former government officer with a penchant for order who was enjoying a serene Saturday morning in his suburban home in Housten, Texas. His new routine was taking some time to adjust to.
When he stepped outside to grab the newspaper, he was surprised to hear a noise coming from down the street. A sense of bewilderment seized him, and he followed the arrow on the sign to find out what was going on.
Crowd Of People
The houses passed in a blur as he strolled, increasing his curiosity. When he reached the house, there was a commotion.
On the lawn, tables were set up, and people rummaged through furniture. One of Alan’s neighbors, Karen Hicks, owned the property. She was surrounded by other people outside her house.
Who Orchestrated This Plan
Alan was enraged on the inside. Karen’s audacity shocked him. Investigating this, he decided to discover who was behind it.
Frustration gnawed at him as he scanned the neighborhood, wondering who had orchestrated this bizarre and infuriating incident. A yard sale was taking place in his complex without his knowledge.
Located The Source
As Alan followed the arrow, he discovered the sign came from Karen Hicks’ house. As he approached her front yard, he noticed an array of furniture displayed there.
Karen’s attention was caught when Alan cleared his throat. “Karen, what’s up with that moving sale sign in my yard?” But Karen ignored him and continued talking to the customer.
She Was Seemingly Unbothered
Following the arrow on the sign, he made his way angrily to the driveway of Karen Hicks, a neighbor. The woman was arranging her furniture on the lawn for a yard sale, a seemingly innocent activity.
His face was etched with confusion as he approached her. “What the heck is going on here? Why’s there a ‘For Sale’ sign in my yard?” Karen refused to respond. What was her issue?
The Confrontation
Alan was becoming angry. In a jog towards her, he shouted, “Karen! What’s that for sale sign doing in my front yard?” He asked again.
Unapologetically chewing gum, Karen looked up. “Oh, hi, Alan. I’m moving, so I thought I’d have a yard sale. I didn’t think you would mind that I used your yard for some extra exposure.” She said, continuing to set up her table.
Lighten Up Alan
Almost pushing the customer aside, Alan stepped closer to Karen. “There was no notification given to me,” he said sternly, “and this is a residential complex”.
A calm expression filled Karen’s face as she arranged some knick-knacks on the table. “Oh, Alan, It’s a yard sale. In preparation for moving, I thought it would be a good idea to get rid of some furniture. There’s no harm in that, is there?”
Stating His Case
Alan’s eyes widened, and he furrowed his brows. “The harm is that it’s my front yard, Karen. And besides, you need permission from the HOA for something like this.”
Alan frowned, “You can’t just put a sign in my yard without asking. It’s against the rules. You need to read the HOA regulations.” But Karen wasn’t paying attention to him, which only made the man angrier.
A Quick Reply
With a smirk, Karen straightened up, revealing a gleaming badge pinned to her shirt that read “HOA President.” “Guess what, Alan? I am the HOA president. I have every right to put that sign there.”
Alan was speechless. He had been back home for just two weeks now. He realized that he had missed out on the HOA communications while away at work. He had a lot of catching up to do.
News To Me
Alan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re the president? Since when?” He asked, folding his arms across his chest.
“Since last month,” Karen replied, crossing her arms defiantly. “So, if I say it’s okay, it’s okay.” She waved her hand at him and walked away to another table. Was Alan going to take on the HOA president?
This Can’t Be Right
Alan shook his head, a mixture of frustration and disbelief coursing through him. “This is ridiculous. I won’t let you violate the rules just because you’re in charge.”
Undeterred, Karen argued back, “Well, what are you going to do about it?” She had just made a sale of one of her chairs and quickly pocketed the cash.
Not This Time
Determined, Alan took the sign and marched to her front yard, forcefully placing it on Karen’s lawn. “I’m not letting this slide. Read the rules, Karen.”
The rude woman was in shock, she couldn’t believe what Alan did. A few other neighbors who were nearby, were watching and laughing at her. She felt embarrassed and quickly ran towards Alan.
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