The neighborhood watch
by Lisa Matiash

Our new house keys were not brought to the closing, but the seller’s realtor promised they’d be in our new mailbox the next day. We arrived the next morning to find our scheduled cable installation guy already in the driveway, a Sears delivery truck with our new appliances on the way, and no house keys to be found.

We sent away the cable guy, called a locksmith, and hoped Sears would be late with their delivery. Since we were situated on a dead-end road, my husband insisted we set up lawn chairs at the end of our driveway so we could see the moment a locksmith turned down the street and wave him down like maniacs—yes, we looked like rednecks! Coincidentally, two houses next door to us were also for sale, and the two sets of prospective owners decided to check out their future new digs that day. And what did they find? Us, at the edge of our driveway, overseeing the neighborhood with steam coming from our ears—a great first impression!