My neighbor let her dog use my lawn as a toilet every morning for six months and never cleaned up once — I stayed polite until she made one comment I couldn’t forget, and by the next morning I’d taught her a lesson without raising my voice once.

neighbor.

We exchanged packages.

I gave her extra tomatoes in summer.

We waved from our driveways.

Sometimes we spoke for a few minutes about ordinary things.

She occasionally attended neighborhood events and always brought something slightly nicer than everyone else.

She complimented my garden often.

Although eventually I noticed that her compliments were usually questions.

What fertilizer do you use?

Why are your hydrangeas blue?

What is in your soil?

How do yours bloom when mine barely grow?

I answered every question.

She rarely seemed to use the advice.

Still,