With the arrival of spring, my parents suddenly decided to put the family plot up for sale. They were getting on in years, and their health wasn’t what it used to be, making it impossible to keep up with the garden. Their eldest daughter, Emma, was busy raising children and working too much to lend a hand. After much deliberation, my parents made their choice.
Emma felt relievedno more arguments about the allotment. Shed struggled to find time to help clear the vegetable beds, especially since she had to travel a considerable distance. Time and again, Emma had urged her parents to sell. Maybe, she thought, they could purchase a plot nearer to their home. She didnt fancy spending every weekend weeding. If only she could have somewhere to unwind, read, and picnica proper little escape. For me, though, the allotment was just a means for homemade preserves.
Weekends slipped by quickly for Emma and her husband, Mark. There was hardly a moment for household chores. Marks job as a builder meant he could be called in even at weekends. Emma was well aware that the plot caused more stress than relaxation. After each weekend spent there, a few days rest would have been welcome.
Emma was pleased with the family decision. The land was sold, and for years life was peaceful. But eventually, Emma grew bored. She started longing for a place of her own to relax. Mark suggested they buy another plot.
Marks work schedule had become manageable. They could now escape to the countryside on weekends, which would do the children good as well. They decided theyd only need a handful of trees and berry bushes for vitaminsno massive beds of vegetables, no endless weeding. Emma told her parents clearly: the plot would be just for leisure, nothing more. The whole family loved the idea. All that remained was to pick out the right property.
They sifted through many listings. In the end, they spotted just the placea tidy cottage, with plantings already established. The seller was an elderly gentleman, Mr. Reed. Hed lost his wife and no longer cared for the garden himself, so he decided to sell.
Everything was settled. Emma was thrilled; her dream was coming true. The cottage was charming, perfectly habitable and didnt require renovations yet. They planned to start improvements in summertime, as soon as they moved in.
Their first week was tranquil. Then Mr. Reed, the previous owner, began to pay them visits. He said hed pop over to collect the rest of his belongings. No one objected. But gradually, he started to complain. First, he found fault with the bushes Emma had removeddead, he claimed. Then he reprimanded them for pulling out his favourite lilies.
Mr. Reed insisted this wasnt part of the agreement. He and his late wife had planted those bushes years ago, and the cranberry patch was essential, he said. When he noticed that the strawberry beds had been replaced by decorative stones, his mood soured further.
He wandered the grounds, finding grievance everywhere. In the end, Mark snapped. We paid good pounds for this land. Legally, its ours now. We decide what goes wheresimple as that.
Their contract said nothing about the previous owner keeping rights over the property; otherwise, theyd never have purchased it. Mr. Reed left that day. But the next morning, he returned, dragging along a shrub and declaring he was planting it in place of the roses.
Mark confronted him, asking what he was doing. In response, Mr. Reed proposed giving them their money back and keeping the plot for himself. Emma and Mark refused, but he planted the bush regardless. Then a neighbour, Mrs. Thornton, stopped by and was startled by his presence. Mr. Reed launched into a tirade about the new proprietors. Mrs. Thornton sided firmly with Emma and Markthey had every right to treat their property as they wished. But it was difficult to get that through to Mr. Reed.
A little later, Mrs. Thornton revealed that Mr. Reed had quarrelled with everyone on the street. Since his wife passed, his behaviour had turned unpredictable. It seemed unlikely he would stop visiting. She suggested the family speak to the local council, who might explain the situation to him.
While Emma and Mrs. Thornton were deep in discussion, Mr. Reed managed to plant his shruband slip off unnoticed. Later he returned for more belongings, shuffled around the plot, and left quietly once again.
The following morning, Mark headed to his site. Working as a construction foreman, he shared his story with colleagues. They told him that Mr. Reed must have considered the plot his inheritance. Despite this, they agreed to help and immediately began erecting a proper fence. After that, Mr. Reed disappeared for several days. On his next visit, he found he could no longer enter the property at will.
He swore, tried sneaking around the fence, and finally marched to the council office. The officials had already heard that he was preventing the new owners from living peacefully. Whatever they told him, Mr. Reed only returned once moreto collect his last boxes, and then he vanished for good.
