For the past two weeks, something strange kept happening every time I came home from work. A thick, neon-orange extension cord\u2014so bright it looked like it belonged at a construction site\u2014was trailing from my neighbor\u2019s garage straight into the outdoor socket behind my house. The first time, I thought I was losing my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe he\u2019d plugged into the wrong outlet by accident. Maybe he was in a hurry. Or maybe\u2014just maybe\u2014there was a reasonable explanation.So I did the polite thing: I unplugged it and didn\u2019t say a word. But the second time? I walked into my garden and caught him mid-plug-in, crouched down like he owned the place.\u201cHey,\u201d I said, trying to sound more confused than angry. \u201cThat\u2019s my power you\u2019re using. It goes through my meter.\u201dHe didn\u2019t apologize.He didn\u2019t even pretend to be embarrassed. He just smirked and said, \u201cRelax, mate. It\u2019s only a few cents.\u201d
As if that made it okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I should\u2019ve confronted him harder, but I brushed it off. I didn\u2019t want drama with a neighbor. I told myself it was a misunderstanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Except it wasn\u2019t. Because two days later, when I came home early, the extension cord was back\u2014snaking across my lawn like a bright orange warning sign. That was the moment I realized he wasn\u2019t confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He wasn\u2019t forgetful. He simply didn\u2019t care. So I ordered a lockable outdoor socket cover and installed it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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