"Did you ever receive permission from the homeowner?"
Karen said nothing.
"Did you ever receive written authorization from the association?"
Still nothing.
"Then why did you announce the pool as available?"
Karen finally whispered:
"I thought it was the right thing to do."
I shook my head.
"You didn't think it was yours to give away."
She looked at me.
And for once, she had no answer.
Chapter 8 — The Consequences
The HOA issued a formal notice.
Karen was removed from the social committee.
The unauthorized event was officially documented.
Several residents apologized.
One family even offered to help clean the backyard.
I accepted.
Not because I needed their help, but because I appreciated the gesture.
The people who had simply followed Karen's instructions were embarrassed.
Karen, however, refused to apologize.
Instead, she claimed everyone had misunderstood her intentions.
That didn't change the facts.
She had entered private property.
She had invited strangers.