When Mark moved in next door, his scowl arrived before his lawnmower—and that thing ran like it had been trained in the military. Precision. Volume. Fury. I introduced myself with honey from my backyard hives and a basket of warm muffins. He took one look, sneered, and closed the door. I tried again—sunflower cuttings, a friendly wave, a few polite hellos. Nothing but grunts and glares. Then came the final insult: one morning, I walked out to find my beloved flower bed—roses, marigolds, lavender—all gone. In its place?

Fresh cement. A perfect gray rectangle, poured overnight. I guess he thought I was harmless. Just an old woman with bees and a soft voice. Big mistake.First, I filed police reports for property damage. Then, I contacted the city about the massive illegal shed he’d built without permits—complete with floodlights and a suspicious amount of wiring. Code enforcement came knocking. And I took him to small claims court for the flower bed. With photos. Dates. Witnesses. The works. He lost—spectacularly. The judge ordered him to pay damages and rebuild my garden,

plant by plant, under court supervision. He had to replant every daisy and dig holes with his bare hands while a court rep watched from a folding chair with a clipboard. Meanwhile, I partnered with a local beekeeping group. We expanded the hives, added native wildflowers, and got certified as a pollinator-friendly property. The bees flourished—and they found their way over to Mark’s side often,

especially to his garbage bins and freshly watered lawn.He stopped mowing quite so loudly after that. Justice, as it turns out, blooms sweetly. Moral: Don’t mistake kindness for weakness—and never mess with a neighbor who knows how to play the long game.