Living contentedly on Maple Street, I made a verbal arrangement with my neighbors, Jim and Susan, to erect a fence for privacy. We shook hands, and I went ahead and constructed the fence along the property border. Jim and Susan were grateful—they had the advantage of the fence without having to pay for it.
They sold their home a year ago, and Kayla, a city realtor, moved in. Not long after, she had a land surveyor draw the borders and informed me that my fence had encroached nine inches onto her property. “Move the fence or pay for the land,” she insisted. Without written documentation of my agreement with Jim and Susan, I had little choice except to demolish the fence.
A week later, Kayla returned, looking distressed. She begged me to replace the fence, explaining that her dog, Duke, needed it to keep secure. Despite her initial fury, I declined. Kayla attempted to cope without the fence by erecting a thin bamboo barrier, but it was no match for Duke. Duke broke away at a yard sale, causing chaos and stealing her pocketbook. The neighbors thought the scenario hilarious, but Kayla was plainly straining.
Kayla attempted several strategies to control Duke, but nothing worked. One evening, she approached me again, pleading with me to replace the fence and even offering to pay for it. While I felt sad for her, I stood solid on my choice. Eventually, I sold my house and relocated, finding tranquility in a new place.
Looking back, I recognized that Kayla’s move next door prompted me to seek peace elsewhere. Sharing the tale with friends usually makes them laugh, and it serves as a reminder that karma may operate in the most unexpected ways.
