"You really want to make this a problem?"
"No," I said. "You already made it a problem."
She looked at me as though she couldn't believe I was refusing to cooperate.
Then she made the mistake that changed everything.
"Fine," she said. "If you're going to be unreasonable, we'll just finish the party and discuss this with the HOA afterward."
I looked at the pool.
Then at the people surrounding it.
Then back at Karen.
"Actually, no."
I pulled out my phone.
Karen's eyebrows rose.
"What are you doing?"
I smiled.
"Ending the party."
And that was when the entire backyard suddenly went silent.
Chapter 2 — Karen's Little Announcement
The story of how Karen had managed to turn my private pool into a neighborhood attraction actually began several days earlier.
Our HOA had recently sent out a newsletter announcing a summer social event.
The official plan was simple: residents could gather at the community clubhouse, bring food, and spend the afternoon together.
Nothing about my property was mentioned.
Nothing about my pool was mentioned.
I hadn't volunteered it.
I hadn't agreed to anything.
So when I first saw the announcement in the neighborhood group, I assumed Karen had made a mistake.
Then I saw the wording.