The Unexpected Lesson I Learned From a Cord in My Backyard

I felt a flicker of irritation but also a sense of confusion. Why hadn’t they simply asked? A short conversation could have prevented the awkwardness entirely.

After giving myself a little time to think it through, I decided to address the situation in a calm, neighborly way. That afternoon, I walked over and mentioned the cord as casually as I could. I said, “I’m not sure if you realized it, but you plugged into my outlet. Just wanted to let you know it’s on my meter.”

He chuckled, brushing it off lightly. “It’s just a little power,” he said, as though that made everything fine. His tone wasn’t unkind, but it left me unsure how to respond. I didn’t want to lecture him, and I had no interest in creating unnecessary tension between our homes.

So I simply nodded, installed a small lockable cover on the outlet later that day, and figured that was the end of it. It was a simple way to set a boundary without saying anything sharp.

The next morning, I opened my mailbox and saw a neatly folded piece of paper inside. I unfolded it, expecting perhaps a flyer or a reminder from the utility company. Instead, I found a handwritten note from my neighbor.

His words were sincere. He apologized for using the outlet without asking and wrote that he felt embarrassed once the conversation sank in. He assured me he never intended to cause any inconvenience and hoped we could move forward on good terms. The honesty in the note quieted the last trace of annoyance I had felt. It’s not often these days that someone takes the time to reflect, admit an oversight, and put kindness on paper.

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