Rage
As Vigo's rage rose through his body, he felt his body tremble. It had been his intention to prevent his neighbor from chopping down his tree. When he was at work, his wife called him while he was on the phone. “He’s doing it!” She shouted with urgency.
Leaving work early wasn't an option for him. It turned out that his neighbor knew something about the tree that he didn't.
In A Rush
Vigo had been experiencing rage ever since he received the phone call. Despite his efforts, he was unable to get anything done at work. It was imperative that he rush home as soon as possible.
The time finally arrived for him to head to the car at five o'clock. It was his goal to drive as fast as he could without breaking any laws. As he looked at what was happening, he wondered if he would be able to stop it in time.
Too Late
He finally made it home after twenty minutes. He was horrified to see the carnage his neighbor had left for him when he pulled into his driveway. There was now a melancholy stump in place of his beautiful tree.
In the end, he was too late. Despite his best efforts, he could not prevent his neighbor from destroying his tree. He knew he would make sure his neighbor paid as he fell to his knees and examined the wreck.
Making Him Pay
It was very stupid of Vigo's neighbor to do what he did. He was unaware of what he had actually done when he destroyed the tree. As a result, Vigo's house had no more shade, but there were other, much greater consequences as well.
A frustrated sigh escaped his lips. It was a pettiness on the part of the foolish neighbor. Vigo would be breathing down Vigo's neck now.
The Call
Damage control was now the priority for Vigo. In spite of his wish never to have to call that number, he pulled out his phone. The only thing he said once they answered was, "He did it. My neighbor actually did it.”
Following these words, he put his phone down and ended the call. His neighbor will only understand what he did once he receives the bill, and justice will be served soon.
His Hobby
Vigo Johanson lived in the Netherlands with his beautiful wife. He wasn't much noticed by most people who passed him on the street. His appearance suggested he was just getting by like any other regular Joe.
Vigo, however, harbored a secret that was quite important. It was a secret he couldn't share with anyone. At home, it manifested itself in his hobbies. In spite of everything he nurtured and tended to, his tree was his favorite.
A Green Thumb
There was nothing Vigo loved more than nature. Spring was his favorite time to tend to his garden, and winter was his favorite time to watch the green emerge from the snow. He looked to other things in nature during the cold months while his garden hibernated.
Among all the things he loved most in his garden, there was one thing he loved most. The tree sat in the front yard of his house. Others, however, hated it.
Henrick
The tree was hated by Vigo's neighbor, Henrick. His yard was always filled with leaves and berries in autumn and spring. The neighbor disliked having to sweep them up and wished to discuss his concerns with Vigo.
While Vigo knew he hated the tree, he had never actually done anything until now. It wasn't the first time he had muttered something under his breath to it.
Unreasonable Request
Vigo noticed his neighbor looking at the tree as he came back from a run. He looked frustrated and angry. He knew his neighbor was miserable because of the tree, but he had no choice but to keep it.
His neighbor noticed him running past on his way to his house at that moment. The opportunity presented itself for him to approach him. An unreasonable request was made by him.
Getting Ready
As Vigo approached, he prepared himself for the conversation he was about to have. "Hello," he said. “You need to do something about that tree. It’s messing up my yard.”
Henrick would bring up his tree, he knew. However, he had no solution for the frustrated man. There was no way he was going to back down.
Butting Heads
The two men were about to butt heads. “I’m sorry, but I can’t think of any way to solve your problem,” Vigo said. He felt back for his neighbor, but there really was nothing he could do.
Unfortunately for him, his neighbor wasn’t going to stay reasonable and level-headed forever. He was going to snap.
Cleaning Up
Vigo thought that the matter was settled. The next week, he noticed his neighbor cleaning up the berries and leaves from his yard. Was this the compromise that he had come to?
He considered helping the man out. Maybe he should help pay for a garden service every so often when it gets bad. But before Vigo could put any plans into fruition, his neighbor would do the unthinkable.
Threats
Henrick was sick and tired of cleaning up a mess that wasn’t even his. That’s when he did something that no one expected. One evening, Vigo got home to see Henrck waiting for him.
He had a deranged look in his eye. Vigo got out of his car quickly to confront him, but that’s when he noticed that he had something in his hand. But when he realized what it was, his blood went cold.
An Ax
The neighbor ran up to Vigo and shouted, “That tree has caused me pain for the last time. If you don’t do something about it, I will!” As he ran to the man. Then Vigo realized what he was holding.
In his hand was a long woodcutting ax. That’s when he realized just how far the man was willing to go to get rid of the tree. He had to talk some sense into him.
Reasoning
“Look at yourself! Gain some sense, and then we can talk about a resolution. But I can tell you can’t be reasoned with right now.” Vigo shouted at the man. He looked down at the ax and started shaking.
He turned around and headed back to his house. But he had shown his hand. Vigo now knew that the man was serious.
Concerned
Vigo headed inside after the confrontation and noticed that his wife had been watching from the window. She had a look of grave concern on her face. “I thought he was going to kill you!” She shouted.
But Vigo assured her it was only because of the tree that he was wielding an ax. But that didn’t excuse him. Especially now that he had snapped.
Snapped
The next day, Vigo had to head to work while his wife stayed home to look after the property. She worked primarily from home and could keep an eye on things while he was away.
But little did the couple know that Henrik wasn’t going to work either. He was sitting in his living room, busy plotting a scheme to make sure that he would be rid of the tree and the pains that came with it.
A Delivery
Just a few hours after Vigo left for work, Henrick had a delivery truck drop a parcel off. Vigo’s wife, Joanna, watched from the window. What was he plotting?
Then, just minutes later, Henrick came out with what had just been delivered. He had upgraded from his ax and headed towards the tree. Joanna couldn’t believe what she saw. She had to call Vigo.
A Chainsaw
Henrick had finally snapped. He had ordered a chainsaw online and had it delivered just minutes ago. He filled it up with petrol and then headed straight for the tree.
There was a fire in his eyes that burned with hate. He wanted that tree gone, but he didn’t know why Vigo was insistent on keeping it up. He’d soon learn the hard way.
A Call From Home
Vigo felt rage rising up through his body. He had told his neighbor not to chop down his tree. But that’s when he got a phone call from his wife while he was at work. “He’s doing it!” She said with urgency in her voice.
He couldn’t just leave work early. But there was something about the tree that his neighbor didn’t know.
As Fast As He Dared
Ever since the phone call, Vigo felt rage coursing through his body. He tried to focus on work, but he couldn’t get anything done. He needed to rush home at the first opportunity.
Finally, five o’clock rolled around, and he raced to his car. He drove as fast as he dared without breaking any laws. He wondered if he would be fast enough to stop what was going on.
Destroying His Tree
After twenty minutes, he finally got home. But pulling into his driveway, he saw the carnage that his neighbor had left for him. Where his beautiful tree once stood was now a melancholy stump.
He was too late. He couldn’t prevent his neighbor from destroying the tree in his yard. As Vigo fell to his knees and examined the wreck, he knew he would make sure his neighbor paid.
Something Stupid
Vigo’s neighbor had done something very stupid. He had no idea what he had actually done in destroying the tree. Not only did that mean Vigo had no more shade over his house, but it also had other, much greater consequences.
He shook his head in frustration. The foolish neighbor had done it for the pettiest of reasons. But now Vigo would be breathing down his neck.
Damage Control
Vigo was now on damage control. He pulled out his phone and called a number he wished he’d never have to. Once they answered, all he said was, “He did it. My neighbor actually did it.”
After those words, he ended the call and put his phone away. Soon, justice would be served, and once his neighbor got the bill, only then he’d understand what he did.
Had No Idea What He’d Done
Vigo sat down on his chair in his living room and contemplated what had happened. He couldn’t protect Henrick from what was coming his way. He just had to accept it.
It wouldn’t be long for “them” to arrive. Henrick had no idea what he had just done. All Vigo could do was sit and wait to hear the car arrive to give him his payback.
A Car Arrives
It didn’t take long for Vigo to hear it. The sound of an engine got closer and closer until it was right outside of his house. He looked outside and saw a black car parked on the pavement.
Men got out and walked up to the tree stump. They started examining it. That’s when Vigo came out to see if he could help in any way. But he knew his neighbor’s fate was sealed.
A Fine
Vigo explained what had happened to the men. They immediately turned to look at Henrick’s house and approached it. They knocked on his door, and after a minute or two, he answered.
“Hello, sir, we’re with the government, and we’re here to enforce the Nature Protection Act. Do you know what kind of tree you cut down, sir?” The man in charge asked the neighbor.
Juniper Tree
The frustrated neighbor shook his head angrily, knowing that they were there for him. The man then explained that what he had cut down was a Juniper tree. A lot of people were unaware that they were endangered in the Netherlands.
The men told him that the neighbor would have to pay a hefty fine for what he had done. He seemed bitter about it, but he hadn’t heard how much he’d have to pay.
1.2 Million
That’s when they handed him the official statement from the government stating that he had to pay a fine of 18,500 Euros monthly for the next five years. The neighbor couldn’t believe it.
He’d have to take out a loan or find other means to pay so much. It would total just over 1,12 million Euros or 1,2 million dollars. But luckily, there were other means.
Community Service
They did give the neighbor an alternative. They told him that he wouldn’t have to pay the fine if he did 8 hours of community service per week. He got so used to cleaning up the berries and leaves. What about trash on the highway?
Vigo felt bad, but Henrick should have just listened to him. There was no cutting down an endangered species when the government was ready to hand out fines. Still, at least he would learn his lesson.