When the construction crew from my neighbor started using my driveway without permission, I tried to react coolly. But after experiencing weeks of frustration, I saw that I had to discipline Dave.
I was prepared to take on the issue at five in the morning. I’d been making coffee when my son Tyler came over. When I heard a truck rumbling outside, I quickly went to the window to see that Dave’s gang had again blocked my driveway.
“Mom, you gotta do something,” Tyler pleaded. I nodded, fury rising within me.
I bolted outside, ripping off my jammies. “Dave! What the devil are you doing?
Dave shrugged. It will just take a few hours to complete. Do you have trouble parking on the street?
“Dave, I’m afraid I can’t.” “This belongs to me,” I said, shaking my head angrily. I remained enraged even after he succeeded in moving the truck.
At work, my supervisor saw how annoyed I was. “Hard morning, huh?” she asked.
“My neighbor’s construction crew keeps blocking my driveway,” I clarified.
That evening, I returned home to see two trucks parked across my driveway. I decided to vent my rage with fire. The next morning, my child assisted me in using my car to block the driveway.
Dave called in a rage. “Move your car!”
Dave, it’s not going to happen. “You can’t use my property without asking,” I responded with a smile.
Dave approached me later that evening. “You’ve made my whole workday miserable!”
“Now you understand how it feels,” I added. “Go ahead, ask before using my driveway.”
Dave reluctantly gave a nod. “Well, I ought to have been more thoughtful.”
Eventually, we reached a consensus. After Dave’s crew resurfaced my driveway, there was once again harmony.
