After returning from a business trip, Stella checks her security footage to get back into her routine and ensure everything is fine. However, she soon discovers that her neighbors have thrown an unauthorized Fourth of July party in her backyard.
Upon returning from my business trip, the first thing I did was review the security camera footage. A few weeks earlier, my boyfriend Nathan and I had watched a bizarre documentary about how people misuse others’ homes while they’re away.
“When the cat’s away, the mice will play,” Nathan had remarked. “You can’t always trust people, even in your own home.”
“I know!” I had agreed.
In the documentary, a servant took over a couple’s house while they were away, hosting wild parties and cleaning up before they returned. Now, sitting at my desk in my sweatpants, I watched the footage load, curious about our troublesome neighbors, the Jacobs.
The Jacobs had been a constant headache, always finding reasons to complain or call the police about noise, especially during the construction of my pool. Their favorite target was my pool parties once it was completed.
“You’re young, and you’re entitled to have pool parties, Stella,” Nathan had insisted when I wanted to invite friends over.
“I know,” I had said. “But they seem to hate it. They have teenage kids and host guests too, so you’d think they’d be used to noise.”
“Just keep doing your own thing,” Nathan advised. “We love our parties here.”
But my blood boiled when I saw the footage of the Jacobs celebrating the Fourth of July in my pool. They knew I was away for the week and took full advantage, having a grand time without my permission.
