Recurring Issue
For some time now, a recurring issue had been troubling the man, and he had exhausted all efforts to bring it to an end. Each dawn, his neighbor would inadvertently strike his fence, resulting in damage.
Initially, it began as an innocent mistake on the neighbor's part, and the man had largely overlooked it. However, it evolved into a persistent pattern, prompting the man to respond in a manner he hadn't anticipated.
Crafting A Plan
Hours were invested in crafting a plan aimed at imparting a lesson to his neighbor. With clenched fists and determination etched on his face, he was resolute in putting an end to the ongoing predicament.
Initiating his devised plan, he watched as his neighbor unwittingly fell into the trap. A surge of satisfaction washed over him at the success of his stratagem. This, in his mind, marked the commencement of a personal conflict - a war of sorts.
Jerry Pork Reed
However, Jerry Pork Reed was inherently a benevolent individual. In his seventies, he was a gentle and affectionate war veteran, endeavoring to spend the remainder of his days in peace on his charming property in Texas.
Jerry had led a fulfilling life, content with the way things had unfolded. With his children grown and out of the house, he and his wife were relishing the tranquility of their sunset years. Unbeknownst to Jerry, trouble was quietly making its way towards him.
Jerry’s Property
The genesis of the predicament lay in the arrival of the new neighbors, the Johnsons, who had recently settled right next to Jerry's property. They had acquired a residence in a housing development that had become available in the market.
Initially, the house was a splendid addition, seamlessly fitting into the idyllic neighborhood that Jerry and his family cherished. However, it wouldn't be too long before this seemingly paradisiacal situation transformed into a nightmarish ordeal.
Their Initial Encounter
Upon their initial encounter, Jerry perceived the Johnsons as an amiable bunch. Tom, their father, was a recent parent, just crossing into his forties. Employed at one of the nearby ranches, he rumbled away each morning in a sizable Ford truck, jolting everyone awake.
Maria, the matriarch, worked as an accountant in town. The twin daughters, Emelda and Esme, a mere eighteen months old, typically stayed home under the watchful eye of a babysitter. Little did Jerry realize, there was more beneath the surface with this family.
A Seasoned Individual
As a seasoned individual who had traversed the world countless times, Jerry understood the importance of extending a friendly introduction, accompanied by his wife, Henrietta. It seemed like the proper course of action.
Fortunately, the Johnsons were present when Jerry approached their house. Following a brief exchange of greetings and some lighthearted banter, Jerry and Henrietta headed back home, calling it a night. However, the tranquility of their sleep was abruptly shattered the next day by a resounding bang.
The Sun Had Just Begun
The sun had just begun to cast its early light when a loud bang echoed through Jerry's home. He swiftly sat up, his aging yet resilient spine reacting instinctively. Henrietta's wide-eyed gaze mirrored his own acknowledgment of the sound.
In a measured response, Jerry reached for his firearm, instructing Henrietta to remain in place. Drawing on his decades of experience in the Marine Corps, he assured her in a hushed tone, "I'll be back in a minute," before quietly exiting the room.
Noise That Jolted
The noise that jolted Jerry from his sleep resembled a collision with his house, a loud and unsettling impact that sent waves of fear through his body.
Taking a deep breath, he systematically searched his home, scrutinizing each room from the living room to the kitchen and guest room for any signs of structural damage. However, his visual inspection revealed nothing amiss. The true extent of the situation, he knew, awaited him once he stepped outside.
Despite The Darkness
Despite the darkness, Jerry's vision remained unhindered. His property was adorned with strategically placed security lights, casting a bright glow across both the front and back yards.
Surveying the surroundings with a firm grip on his weapon, Jerry discerned no apparent breach in his own property. However, the situation took a turn as he descended the driveway and directed his gaze toward the Johnsons' compound.
Notable Distinctions Existed
The Johnsons' compound stood in such proximity to Jerry's that their fences practically converged. However, a notable distinction existed – the Johnsons' compound featured a robust stone fence, while Jerry and Henrietta had invested their efforts in cultivating and preserving a meticulously maintained hedge around their property.
This hedge was fortified by a tall stone curb, intended to shield it from potential vehicular damage. Yet, as Jerry observed the scene, it became evident that the curb had not fulfilled its protective role.
The Gaping Hole
A large hole gaped out the once beautiful hedge, lit by a truck’s headlight. Jerry’s lips parted as he neared the truck. He wasn’t sure who it was and was flabbergasted that someone would drive so far away from the main road to crash into his fence.
Anger flared within Jerry. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to take action even though the truck was on his property. But Jerry did the unexpected, something he’d soon regret.
It’s Tom’s Ford
Jerry threw his weapon aside and dashed to the vehicle, hoping whoever was inside wasn’t hurt. He could see that the vehicle had gone clean through his high stone curb. But that didn’t matter now.
Worried, Jerry neared the vehicle. But as he got closer, he realized he’d seen the truck before. It was the massive Ford truck his neighbor loved driving.
Is He Drunk?
“Tom?” Jerry called frantically, and Tom waved a hand, letting out a heavy laugh. “Corner came out of nowhere,” he said gleefully. Jerry couldn’t help but wonder if the man was inebriated.
He helped Tom come out of the truck and spent the next few minutes ensuring that he had no injuries or a possible concussion. But as he did this, he realized something else.
See Ya Soon!
No alcohol scent came off of Tom. His breath was free of any smoke odor, and his pupils weren’t dilated. His heart was still thundering, adrenaline still choking his veins.
“Are you alright?” Jerry asked him. But Tom didn’t seem fazed at all. He walked to the front of his truck and assessed the damage before letting out a laugh and hurrying back in. “See ya soon!” he yelled and reversed into the awaiting darkness. The end was here.
Nothing A Few Hours Won’t Fix
Jerry didn’t know what to make of what he’d just witnessed. He looked at his damaged fence, from the curb to the hedge he and his wife had poured all their hearts into.
“Nothing a few hours of work won’t fix,” he sighed, opting to fix the mess instead of butting heads with his neighbor. But letting Tom go would be a mistake that would change his life forever.
Get It Done
Jerry spent the day fixing the curb. He sourced rocks from the local mine and mixed sand and concrete. He brought his gardening tools, too, knowing he needed to give this his all.
The whole repair took him six good hours, each more grueling than the last. But at last, the fence was fixed, and Jerry could take a breather. He should have known that his neighbor wasn’t done with it just yet.
A Loud Bang
Jerry returned to the house exhausted. After a long shower and a hearty dinner, he spent the rest of his day with Henrietta, enjoying a good night after a long day of work.
Hours later, he was in bed, asleep. But just like the previous day, a loud bang clutched him from his dreams. He woke with a start, frantically trying to piece everything together. Was he dreaming, or did the same thing just happen again?
It Happens Again
“Outside,” Henrietta said, jutting her chin at a faint light struggling to shine through the thick curtains. Jerry wasted no time hurrying outside. He already knew what to expect.
“Tom!” he called out the moment his eyes landed on the Ford truck. His neighbor was already out, assessing the damage to the vehicle with a grin. What he’d say would leave Jerry speechless.
Good Morning!
“She can take anything!” Tom said gleefully, slapping his truck’s massive bumper. He didn’t acknowledge the fact that he’d ruined his neighbor’s property yet again or that he’d woken Jerry and Henrietta up.
Jerry waited for him to apologize or at least acknowledge his actions. But Tom stared at him for a second before turning away. “Good morning!” he declared and hurried back into his truck before reversing and driving off.
Overpowering Passions
Jerry had never been a person to let his passions take over. But he was starting to sense a pattern here that he didn’t like. It all made his blood boil within him.
He turned around and walked back to the house, knowing he’d have to spend yet another day fixing his fence instead of catering to his daily errands. It would only be a matter of time before Tom’s actions forced him to do the unthinkable.
Fixing It Again
Jerry fixed his fence yet again. But this time, he made up his mind to march to Tom’s house as soon as evening came. He’d speak to him, man to man, and issue a stern warning. He’d never been an angry man, but today, he’d have to be.
Evening came, and Jerry went to talk to Tom. He explained how much time and resources rebuilding his fence took. He also gave his warning, asking Tom to drive carefully. But even then, he could see the defiance in the man’s eyes.
It’s Just A Fence
Although Jerry didn’t speak on it, he’d noticed the lack of respect in his neighbor’s eyes and voice. Tom acted like Jerry was just an old geezer who was seemingly too obsessed with his fence.
“It’s just a fence, Jere,” he said with a laugh, although his eyes were narrowed as if he were issuing his own warning. But he’d soon learn who he was messing with.
Relax
Jerry spent the night worried that his neighbor would run into his fence again. He’d already spent a few hundred dollars fixing it. He’d also lost out on money because he wasn’t working on his farm for two days.
Collectively, this Tom situation had lost him close to two thousand dollars. “I already warned him,” he told Henrietta when she asked him to relax. “Please don’t do anything rash,” she said.
The Monster Within
Henrietta Reed was among the few people who truly knew who Jerry was. While many saw him as a harmless old soul with a beautiful farm, Henrietta knew what kind of monster he could turn to when provoked.
She’d been with him since his twenties and had stood by him as he went to tour after tour. She’d watched war change him, and she’d witnessed love rebuild him. She knew the kind of violence that had turned him into the gentle soul he was. But she also knew that the monster was never truly gone. It was just hibernating.
Warn Them
For the first time in more than thirty years, Henrietta saw a dangerous glint in her husband’s eyes. She saw the lust for war that had once consumed him in his heydays, and it sent a cold shiver down her spine.
She picked up the phone immediately and called the Johnsons, hoping to find Maria, Tom’s wife. She understood that sometimes, the best way to reason with a man was to reason with his heart.
Jerry’s Heart
Henrietta had long been Jerry’s heart. Through her, he’d found peace and hope. He’d found someone to listen to and confide in. Henrietta hoped Maria was this for Tom. She warned him about Jerry’s anger, asking her to implore Tom to relent.
But that night, as she slept, a loud bang rang outside. But tonight, there was something else, something that made Henrietta cover her ears.
Pain And Agony
Jerry sprung to his feet. But unlike the previous nights, his face wasn’t covered in worry but pure malice. He snuck to the window with an agileness Henrietta had never seen, moving so quickly and expertly that she only saw a blur.
“Got him,” he whispered as another scream rang outside. Pain and agony. Henrietta could tell. That was the scream of a man who was in pure pain and agony.
The Worst Of Human Nature
Jerry hurried out of the room, and Henrietta followed. She could barely keep up with him, watching as the man she loved slipped from shadow to shadow, an expert, a true product of the worst of human nature - war.
Outside, Tom was hurling insults, his hand tugging his hair as he cried out. The entire front of his truck was stuck in a ditch, from which sharp metal spikes protruded, each implanting themselves into the engine. The rear was stuck in the air, and the tires were still spinning.
Showtime
“He’s not hurt,” Jerry whispered before Henrietta could speak. He was sure of it as if he’d accounted for the depth of the ditch and length of the spikes. “But he won’t be driving that thing anytime soon.”
On seeing Jerry, Tom turned with wild eyes, approaching the older man with murderous intent. But he stopped in place as Jerry stepped up to meet him. Something in the older man’s eyes made him second-guess his decision.
The Final Warning
“This is my final warning,” Jerry declared. “Drive carefully, okay neighbor?” “Okay, okay,” Tom said, fear lacing his words. He backed away, tail between his legs and his eyes broad.
Jerry turned to Henrietta, the harsh lines on his face fading away. With a sad, weary smile, he hugged her, tightly wrapping his arms around her and letting out a heavy sigh. “I hope I never have to do such a thing again,” he confessed.