Personal Narrative-Home Owner Association Fees

Let me set the stage – Fall had just begun, but with so many trees in our yard and around the neighborhood – the yard was already brimming over with autumn leaves. To make things even more interesting (some would say worse) we live at the end of the block. Every breeze guides whatever debris it finds (including neighbor's leaves) right to our front door. I’m talking tons of leaves. It’s a mess! For some homeowners, this inevitable yearly chore would spell disaster – but we love the house, so we put up with it.
However, there’s something about me that you need to know: I love fall. Okay, I love spring, too. I love every season. Each has something to offer that I just can't live without, but I especially love Fall! It's the leaves. While all my neighbors are outside, “sweating to the oldies” to keep theirs picked up – I'm displaying mine like vintage wine.
We get a lot of stares. Good thing we have no H.O.A. Fees (Home Owner Association Fees) – we'd be broke with all the fines we'd have to pay. One of my neighbors (true story) one of my neighbors thought maybe I was sick, and gleefully came over, offering to lend me her yard man. She truly seemed shocked by my laughter as I showed her the door. Old biddy! You know the type – the only good thing she has to say about anyone is the sigh between lies, but that’s another story. Several.
Nothing blatant, mind you, but a dark and ominous feeling overshadows me. Peering through the crack, I find a young man in his early teens, maybe thirteen, wearing jeans and a hoodie. He’s just standing there (not saying a word, just standing there) looking at me beneath that hoodie and a heavy set of bangs. Even with his head tilted down, I knew he was looking right at me, even though I couldn’t see his eyes. You know when someone is looking at you. His presence was unsettling, and if I had been uneasy before – I was doubly so