Across the Street(Marla) It was a sunny Friday afternoon in June. Doreen looked out her window and saw her neighbor across the street sitting in his garage. As usual, he was surrounded by junk, a mess that he apparently wanted everyone to see. She sighed and shook her head with disapproval and then turned away as she sipped her coffee.

She didn’t even know his first name. She had moved in during the pandemic, and everyone had still been keeping a distance. According to the mailbox his last name was Bower. Nice enough guy, she supposed. He waved back whenever she waved. Nice but messy, or at least the garage was messy.

She stepped away from the window to avoid having to look at the disaster. Then she sat down in her chair and let herself think. What could she do about this? She couldn’t go over there and demand him to clean up the eyesore. Yet there had to be a way.

She finished her coffee and despite knowing the feelings it would bring, she took one last look across the street. Ugh. He looked as if he were sitting in front of a haphazard yard sale, the last-minute kind put on by slovenly people who don’t even bother to sort things out and stick on price tags. And then she let herself indulge in that thought again. And she smiled.

Fifteen minutes later, she clicked the last few necessary keys on her keyboard with satisfaction. There’d be plenty of time for people to see the ad for the yard sale which would take place across the street the following day. Perhaps if enough people stopped by to ask Mr. Bower if he was having a sale, to ask if they were at the right place, he’d be embarrassed enough to see that he needed to clean up.

Saturday morning came with the promise of entertainment. The sale was advertised to start at 9:00. At 8:50, Doreen was peeking out the window, this time upstairs where she hoped to be less visible. Precisely at 9:00, the first car pulled to a stop in front of Mr. Bower’s house. Mr. Bower was in his usual place. He was so predictable. He stood as the driver got out and gave a nod as she walked purposefully up the driveway, but his expression changed as she marched right into the garage. At this, Doreen put her hand over her mouth to stifle her laugh, even though she was alone. Mr. Bower was clearly confused and looked irritated as he said something. The woman looked bewildered and answered back. Doreen watched with glee. But then the woman and Mr. Bower started laughing and Mr. Bower gave a sort of shrug and then extended his arm in some sort of welcome. They continued to talk as the woman picked up a few things, set them down, picked up a few other things, and eventually seemed to settle on some items. Mr. Bower disappeared for a moment and returned with two large paper bags. He helped the woman pack the bags, she gave him some money, they both laughed again, and she left.

Well! That wasn’t what Doreen had expected. Somehow now it wasn’t so funny. He was supposed to be filled with shame, but instead his hands were being filled with cash! Five minutes later, two more cars pulled up and Doreen watched as the scene unbelievably played again, although of course now Mr. Bower wasn't so shocked. He did, however, seem to still express his own confusion to the customers, and they all seemed to find it hilarious. After a while, Doreen left her place at the window. She had stuff to do. And for some reason this plan of hers wasn’t nearly as fun as she had expected.

The day passed, frustratingly for Doreen, delightfully for Mr. Bower. She left her house in the mid-afternoon, determined to stay out until the evening and not return until Mr. Bower decided to close up his garage. But when she returned, she was surprised to see that some sort of party was happening. Music was playing. Mr. Bower was grilling hotdogs right in his driveway. The woman who’d been the first customer had returned, now dressed in a cute sundress and holding cupcakes. Doreen was pretty sure that she recognized the others as some of the people who’d shopped at the yard sale that wasn’t even a real yard sale!

Annoyed at their happiness, frustrated that her plan had gone a little too well, Doreen hurried into her house. She didn’t watch out the window this time.

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