The Johnson family had just moved into a new neighborhood. After their neighbors, the Summers family, threw them a welcoming party, a long-lasting dispute began because of their shared lawn. However, outside adversaries would eventually force them to band together for the greater good.
The Summers family – John, his wife, Judy, and ten-year-old son, Tommy – watched curiously from their porch as the new neighbors moved their furniture into the house next door. “The old Daniels’ house has finally been sold, huh?” Judy said, casually sipping a cup of tea. “Yeah…looks like it,” John replied.
“You think they are from the city?” Judy asked. “Must be. Look at those unnecessarily fancy bags.
A bit much if you ask me,” John said with a judgmental grimace. “Oh, Johnny. Always such a grouch.
I like their bags,” Judy said. “Looks like there’s a kid there too. He looks like he’s my age,” Tommy said with excitement.
Tommy and the other boy, Kevin’s eyes momentarily met. They shared a brief nod of acknowledgment. “Kevin!
Stop staring off into the clouds and help your mother with the rest of the bags,” Kevin’s dad, Danny, told his son, seeing him gazing at the neighbors next door. “Nonsense. They’re just being neighborly.
Plus, I think this may be really good for Kevin. He may even find a friend in the boy next door. You know he struggled to make friends back in the city.
This could be good for him.”
Kevin helped his mother, Cindy, bring the bags into the house. Danny peeked out the kitchen window, looking into the family’s porch. “Looks like we’ve got some nosy neighbors,” Danny scoffed.
“They seem nice. Perhaps we should introduce ourselves once we are settled in,” Cindy suggested. “Maybe… I just kind of think we left the city so we could have a little peace and quiet.
Let’s not get too caught up in community politics, love?” Danny said. “Politics, Danny? Relax…this is our new home.
Our new community. We should embrace it. And I know how you get sometimes,” Cindy said, giving Danny the side eye.
“I know, my love. And I’m all for embracing it. All I’m saying is they seem a little intrusive,” Danny added.
“Nonsense. They’re just being neighborly. Plus, I think this may be really good for Kevin.
He may even find a friend in the boy next door. You know he struggled to make friends back in the city. This could be good for him,” Cindy said, holding her husband affectionately.
“Hello! I’m in the room!” Kevin said, raising his hand as a gesture of notice. His parents both laughed.
“You’re mom’s right. This is a fresh start for all of us Johnsons. We should grab it by the horns and embrace it!” Danny said, pulling his son into the huddle as he looked around at their new home.
A few days later, there was a knock at the Johnson family’s door. Cindy went to open the door and found a congregation of their neighbors, all standing at their porch bearing various gifts of baked goods and other foods. Among them were John, Judy, and Tommy.
“Greetings there! We are the Summers family. These are the McCarthy, the Stevens, and the Lloyd family.
We are all your new neighbors, and we just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood,” Judy said with a warm smile. “Oh, wow! How kind of you!” Cindy said as Judy handed her a casserole.
“Danny! Kevin!” Cindy called. Danny and Kevin arrived moments later, surprised to see the welcoming party at their doorstep.
“Our neighbors came bearing gifts, honey,” Cindy said to her husband. “Oh, why thank you! I’m Danny, this is my beautiful wife, Cindy, and our son, Kevin,” Danny said, taking the rest of the gifts.
Again, Tommy and Kevin gave each other a discreet nod of acknowledgment and a friendly smile. “Great to meet you all. I’m John, and this is my wife, Judy, and son, Tommy.
Seeing as our houses share a border, we thought it only fitting that we have a barbecue there to welcome you to the neighborhood and better acquaint ourselves with each other. Saturday afternoon. What do you think?” John said.
“It seems like a fine idea. Thank you, John,” Danny said. “Alright, very well then.
Guess we’ll see you there,” John concluded. “Guess you will. Thanks again,” Danny concluded.
Later that night, Danny and Cindy were preparing for bed. Cindy washed her face in the bathroom while Danny lay on the bed in contemplative thought. “I told you the new neighbors would be nice,” Cindy said from the bathroom.
“Funny, I don’t remember you saying that,” Danny retorted. “Listen, all I’m saying is they aren’t as bad as you’d feared. I believe the word you used was…’intrusive,’” Cindy added, walking into the room and joining Danny in bed.
“I don’t know about you, but bombarding us at our doorstep with a league of overcooked casseroles is a tiny bit intrusive. Just a bit,” Danny said with a cheeky smile. Cindy chuckled, saying, “Oh, wow!
Is this really the man I married?! We are in suburbia, my love. That’s how things work here.
And I really think it was sweet. The city can be so distant, cold, and guarded. I like this,” Cindy said with a hopeful smile.
“Yeah. Jokes aside, I like it too,” Danny said before continuing with a doubtful grimace, “What about that John fellow, though?”
“Oh, the Summers family. They’re nice,” Cindy simply replied.
“I guess. I’m just not sure about how he said, ‘Guess we’ll see you there.’ He didn’t give us much of a choice, did he?” Danny said. “It was a friendly invite, Danny!” Cindy said, laughing at her husband’s paranoia.
“Enough of that now. Let’s get some shut-eye. Goodnight, my love,” Cindy concluded, kissing her husband.
“Goodnight, darling,” he replied. A few days passed, and it was finally the Saturday of the barbecue. The families set up the barbecue in the large lawn space that bordered the Summers and Johnson homes.
The barbecue was beautifully set up by both the Johnson and Summers family. All of the neighborhood came out to meet and greet their new neighbors. Everything was proceeding perfectly.
Tommy and Kevin even found each other finally having an interaction beyond simple nods of acknowledgment as they raved about their favorite video games. As Tommy and Kevin played on the lawn while the adults continued with their own banter closer to the house, a dalmatian suddenly ran towards them and began digging various holes in the yard. Kevin immediately shot up in alarm, running to his dad by the grill.
“Dad! Dad!” Kevin yelled. “What’s the problem, champ?” Danny asked, concerned.
“Over there! There’s a dog in the yard!” Kevin said, pointing to the dog. Danny and Kevin rushed towards the dog, only to suddenly see Kevin playing with it.
“My yard!!” Danny said, seething with rage. “Who’s dog is this?” Danny yelled. “She’s our dog, sir,” Tommy said softly, a little taken aback by Danny’s rage.
Suddenly, John appeared from behind Danny. “Everything okay here?” John asked. “No, everything is not okay.
Your dog is making a mess of my yard,” Danny said, pointing to the random hole in the yard. “Sorry about that. I guess Suzie just has to get used to sharing the space, that’s all.
This used to be her playing ground,” John explained. “Well, that’s good and all, but now it’s our yard. I’d appreciate it if Suzie understood that,” Danny retorted.
“C’mon, Kevin,” Danny said, storming off, his son hesitantly following behind him. Kevin and Tommy shared a sad look as their playtime was cut short. John fluffed up the pillows in a huff as he and his wife prepared to sleep later that day.
Judy looked at him, trying to figure out why he seemed to be in such a mood. “So, are you finally going to tell me what’s got you in such a mood?” Judy finally asked. “That Danny…he’s a real piece of work, isn’t he?
Telling us Suzie should find somewhere else as if he owns the place,” John said. “Well, technically, he does. It’s partially his property, too,” Judy said, hopping into bed.
“Yeah, but he didn’t have to be a jerk about it. It’s our property, too,” John retorted. “Please, John.
Don’t make a thing of this. Aside from the little incident with Suzie, it was an amazing barbecue. I like Cindy and her whole family.
Who knows, you might even find a friend in John. Look at Tommy and Kevin. They seemed to get along very well,” Judy said.
“Friends?!” John said with a scoff. “I highly doubt it. We’ll be alright just as long as he knows his place.”
“Don’t overthink it, my dear,” Judy said, kissing her husband.
“Goodnight.”
A few days later, John notices that the Johnson family has parked two of their cars on the lawn, and one has taken
