That evening, Eleanor heard a familiar vehicle pull up. From her window, she watched Monica step out carrying the charging cable. Apparently, their conversation the night before had not been enough. Monica crossed toward the garage as confidently as she had before, cable in hand. But the instant she entered the protected area, the motion sensor detected her.

The sprinkler burst to life. Monica jumped backward as water sprayed across the grass. She stared at the sprinkler, then noticed Eleanor’s new sign. By then, the commotion had attracted attention. A few neighbors stepped outside to see what was happening. Monica began complaining, but Eleanor calmly explained that she had repeatedly found her electricity being used without permission. That was when another neighbor unexpectedly spoke up. Monica had borrowed something from him months earlier and never returned it. Then another neighbor mentioned a similar experience. Suddenly, the uncomfortable conversation was no longer about one charging cable. A pattern was beginning to emerge, and Monica realized everyone was listening.