“You can’t tell thyme from parsley unless it’s labeled in the shop! And Ill bet youve only seen berries in jam!” grumbled the offended neighbour.
Valerie and William had arrived at their countryside cottage. Theyd bought it last autumn and now were determined to set everything right. The house itself was lovelyperfect for winter livingbut the garden and outbuildings needed a fair bit of work.
The old orchard required tidying up. Theyd already ordered a new sauna, due to arrive in a weekall they had to do was pick the spot. A laundry shed, woodshed, and gazebo would follow. The children had promised to visit and help out.
“Peaceful here, isnt it? We could live here year-round. Were retired now, after all.”
“I checked the cellarjust needs a new door.”
“And Ive looked over the back veranda. Remember we talked about a gazebo? Pointless. Theres a fine old round table and chairs out there alreadyjust needs refinishing. Theyll last another century. Lovely view of the garden tooperfect for tea. The door needs replacing, though. Feels like someones been in the house over winter.”
“Right, doors first. Well sort everything in the back gardenneat but not obvious from the road. And out front, well have a proper lawn and flowerbeds.”
“Flowers are already coming upperennials, just needs rearranging. Maybe some replanting, but well leave it this summer.”
A week later, the sauna arrived. The children came, and the work began. The neighbour dropped by to introduce herselfher grandchildren kept hovering around.
“Got grandkids of your own?”
“A few. Theyll visit.”
“Why such a tall fence? Weve always lived fine without one.”
“Without one? Then what was here before? We just took it downrotten, thats all. You might not care, but we like things tidy. And dont worry, we havent pinched an inch. The fence follows the property line exactly.”
“No side gate? Theres always been a shortcut here.”
“You mean between our plots? No. Front gate only.”
“But where will the children play? Yours and mine? And youve gone and cut down the apple treesmy lot loved climbing them!”
“We pruned them, not chopped them down. Planted new ones too. Yours can climb yours.”
“All new, isnt it? And why bushes along our fence?”
“For beauty, of course!”
The neighbour kept returning with fresh complaints. Her grandchildren roamed Valerie and Williams garden until the new gate went up.
“Youve settled in thoroughly,” she remarked. “Staying through winter?”
“Well see.”
“Why lock the gate? The children always played football out frontsafe, flat. The roads no place for them.”
“Not with my vegetable beds. You couldnt tell sage from mint without a labelprobably think strawberries grow in tins. Best stay friendly.”
“That gate stays shut. We dont need your lot trampling through. Two days ago, they let our hens outstill missing half of them.”
“You keep chickens? So youre staying, then?”
“We live here already.”
Late August brought Williams birthday. The family gatheredchildren, grandchildren. The men grilled, the women set the veranda table.
“Here we are! Neighbourly well-wishes, you might say. Weve always dropped in uninvitedthats what neighbours do. The children knew straight off.”
“Preparing, guests arrivingmust be a party! Well join you. Good for the kids to play together. Time we got friendly.”
“Not invited, Im afraid. Family only. Were neighbours, not kin.”
“Could change! Children grow up. Might be kin yet,” she chirped.
No matter what they said, the woman twisted it. Her grandchildren were everywhereshaking fruit trees, climbing the sauna roof (luckily no falls). Then they took to the decorative stones. Someone started hurling them into the poolnoticed only when water gushed out.
“Autumns comingpools coming down anyway,” the neighbour shrugged. “Children had their fun.”
“Time you left.”
“But weve barely sat! The children are starvingall that running. Right, everyonedig in!”
The party was ruined. But another cameValerie and Williams thirty-fifth anniversary. This time, someone bolted the gatetheir seven-year-old grandson, as it turned out.
Knocking sounded. The family pretended not to hear. The air smelled of barbecue and fresh earth. A chill was setting in.
“When do you head back to town?”
“Well see. Autumn first, then well decide. Apples to harvest toofine crop this year. We love it here. All but the neighbour, and shes no real bother. Weve learned how to handle her.”
Laughter all round.
Guests left; Valerie and William stayed. Autumn ahead, then winter theyd give it a go. If not, their city flat still waited.
As for the neighbour? She left tooschool starting, her daughter needing help with the grandchildren.
William exhaled in relief. Thank heaven for small merciessome neighbours were more trouble than they were worth.
