“You can’t tell thyme from parsley unless it’s labeled in the shop! And I’ll bet you’ve only seen berries in jam!” grumbled the offended neighbour.
Valerie and William had arrived at their countryside cottage. They’d bought it last autumn and now were determined to put everything in order. The house itself was lovelycosy enough for winterbut the garden and outbuildings needed plenty of work.
The old orchard required tidying up. A new sauna had already been ordered and would arrive in a weekthey just needed to pick the spot for it. Alongside that, they planned a laundry shed, a woodshed, and a summerhouse. Their grown children had promised to visit and help out.
“It’s peaceful here,” Valerie mused. “We could live here year-round now that we’re retired.”
“I checked the cellar,” William replied. “Only needs a new door.”
“And I looked over the back veranda. Remember how we talked about a summerhouse? Pointless. The veranda has that big round table and those antique chairsjust needs refinishing. They’ll last another century. And the view over the garden is perfect for tea. That door needs replacing toofeels like someones been inside recently.”
“Right. Doors first. Well sort the back garden properlyneat but not too visible from the road. And out front, well have a lawn and flowerbeds.”
“Some perennials are already coming upjust need figuring out where. Might have to move a few, but well leave it this summer.”
A week later, the sauna arrived, and their children came to help. The neighbour, Mrs. Higgins, dropped by to introduce herself, her grandkids darting around the property.
“Got grandchildren of your own?” she asked.
“Theyll visit,” Valerie said.
“Why such a tall fence? The rest of us never bothered with boundaries.”
“No fence? Then what was here before? We just took down the old onerotted to nothing. You might not care, but we like things tidy. And dont worry, we havent pinched an inchits right on the property line.”
“No little gate? Theres always been a shortcut through here.”
“You mean between our plots? No, thats not happening. The only entrance is from the lane.”
“But where will the children play? Yours, mine? And youve gone and cut down the apple treesmy lot loved climbing those!”
“We pruned them, not chopped them. Planted new ones, too. Your kids can climb *your* trees.”
“New everything with you. And why bushes along the fence?”
“Because they look nice!”
Mrs. Higgins kept returning with fresh complaints. Her grandchildren rampaged through Valerie and Williams garden until the new gates went up.
“Youve settled in properly,” she remarked another day. “Staying through winter?”
“Well see.”
“Why lock the gates? The kids always played football heresafe and flat. The roads full of cars!”
“Every inch of my front gardens plantedunlike yours. You wouldnt know a herb unless its wrapped in plastic. And Ill bet youve only tasted berries in a jar. Try being neighbourly.”
“The gates stay shut. Your grandkids let our hens out two days agostill missing half of them.”
“You keep chickens? So youre staying, then?”
“Weve *already* stayed.”
Come late August, they celebrated Williams birthday. Family filled the verandamen at the barbecue, women setting the table.
Mrs. Higgins appeared uninvited. “Here we are! Neighbourly goodwill and all that. We always used to pop round before. The kids knew by breakfastguests mean a party! Lets sit. Theyll play together. High time we got friendly.”
“We didnt invite you. This is family.”
“Oh, that may change. Kids grow up. Who knows?” she chirped.
Ignoring hints, she stayed. Her grandchildren shook fruit trees, scaled the sauna roof, and later hurled decorative stones into the inflatable pool. Water eruptedmet with shrieks of delight.
“Autumns coming anywaypools due for packing,” Mrs. Higgins shrugged.
“Time you left.”
“But weve barely sat! Kids are starving from running about. Come on, everyonedig in!”
The gathering was ruined. But a week later, the family returned for Valerie and Williams wedding anniversarythirty-five years.
Someone (their seven-year-old grandson, it turned out) had the sense to lock the gates.
Knocking went ignored. The scent of grilled meat mingled with the evening chill.
“When do you head back to London?” someone asked.
“Well see. Autumn firstthen winter. Apples to harvest, too. Lovely crop this year. We like it hereexcept for *her*. But shes no bother anymore. Weve learned how to handle her.”
Laughter followed.
After goodbyes, Valerie and William stayed. Ahead lay autumn, then winter Theyd try it. If not, their London flat waited.
As for Mrs. Higgins? School called. Her daughter needed help with the children. William exhaled in relief. Thank heavens for small mercies.
