“Your son just threw rocks at my cat,” I stated.
She immediately dismissed it. “Oh please. They were probably acorns.”
She then accused me of being “obsessed” and watching their house too closely.
I firmly stood my ground. “You’re right. I am watching your house. Because your kid keeps treating my property like a playground. I have every right to record what happens on my doorstep. And if you can’t keep him under control, I’ll escalate it.”
“Are you threatening me?” she demanded.
“I’m warning you,” I replied.
Before she could continue, Araceli appeared. She had clearly heard the whole exchange, and her face showed deep shame. She gently pulled her mother back. “I’ll handle it,” she repeated. This time, the feeling was different; it felt like a final, serious promise.
The Shift: Understanding the Deeper Issue
Over the next few weeks, the atmosphere changed completely. The doorbell pranks stopped entirely. Matteo began to avoid me, but then, surprisingly, he started waving from across the street—no smirk, just a small, quiet nod.
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