New Neighbor Relations.... (person, grandmother, house, introducing)

[MainStreet]

(didn't know where to post this....I'm in need for some wisdom.)

{cue dramatic mystery music}

The Mystery of the Stolen Pillow pillow....pilllow....pillow...

Sometime between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. someone stole a decorative pillow off the settee on my front porch, here on Main Street. I have a really good idea who did it. In fact, he popped into my head the second I leaned back with my morning cup of coffee, and was met with hard wood.

Let's ponder the consequences of retaliation, shall we?

The Facts:

-it is common for Main Street residents to decorate their front porches.

-the pillow was hand quilted by my mother approximately 20 years ago (sentimental value.) It is very flat, not very comfortable...and isn't even that aesthetic.

-the pillow is too big for a raccoon or cat to have carried it off to bed their nursery.

-because of the position of the settee, it can't be seen from the street, but is in direct view of your new neighbor's porch.

-your new neighbor spends just as much time on his porch as you do (a lot; I talk on the phone out there...and if you haven't guessed by now...I'm on the phone a lot.)

-your neighbor moved into his rental with little, if any belongings. It wouldn't surprise you if he's using a sleeping bag in there.

-perhaps he doesn't have a pillow to rest is weary head and reaching over my railing for the quick steal was just too tempting.

Now here is the conundrum:

-I've thought of putting a note on his door that says "return my mother's hand quilted pillow and I'll give you two others." Unsigned...so not to id myself if I'm a bit off. (But I swear he did it!)

-I've thought of putting more comfortable pillows out there with a note to exchange these for the quilted one.

-I've thought of waiting until he is home, knocking on his door and introducing myself as the welcome wagon, his place is that small that I should see the pillow right away.

-or do I cut my loses because I'm a mother and can't risk retaliation, even if he is the one that did it?

The thought of that pillow ending up in the trash dumpster because it's not comfortable, is just down right sad.

I've lived here 7 years and have never had anything taken off my porch. And that is the point...there is a lot of valuable things out there that have never been touched. This person just needed a pillow....and he's the only person that could have seen it and the only person that potentially is down and out enough to need one.

Gentle readers....what do I do? In the mean time, I have printed and tacked a sign facing my neighbor's porch that reads "A clear conscious makes a good pillow. -American proverb"

[Rance]

Ahahahahaha! I'd look for tracks. Any sign in the dirt? Then wander aimlessly over and see if there are any to compare to in his yard.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by Rance

Ahahahahaha! I'd look for tracks. Any sign in the dirt? Then wander aimlessly over and see if there are any to compare to in his yard.

I wish it was that easy.....tourist town...it's all brick walk. He's really sly...he thinks I haven't noticed him over there. He moved into the "efficiency" apartment of a large Victorian divided into 6 apartments. The efficiency notoriously rents to men down on their luck, just thrown out at home, etc. It's a room with a sink and a commode. I...working in law enforcement...don't anticipate his blinds opening anytime soon...or ever.

In a way this is sort of fun....I'm waiting for him to get home from work, so I can start my surveillance. I'm reading a great book; might have to park myself on my settee this evening with a glass of ice tea and wave to the tourists as they walk by....he'll never suspect, lol.

[Rcm58]

-I've thought of putting a note on his door that says "return my mother's hand quilted pillow and I'll give you two others." Unsigned...so not to id myself if I'm a bit off. (But I swear he did it!)

If you decide to leave the note on his door you should make the note with newspaper clippings.
Or go around the neighborhood and staple up flyers with a picture of the missing pillow with the caption "Have You Seen Me"

[june 7th]

Bake him a pie. Or brownies. Or cookies, whatever. (Hell, you can buy a box of Entemanns if need be.) Go over to his house. Ring the bell. When he answers the door, try the following:

Hi. I just wanted to bring this (the pie) over by way of saying welcome to the neighborhood. I'm not sure whether you realize it, but I had a pillow taken off my front porch sometime last night...My grandmother hand made it; it has so much sentimental value to me...I'm just wondering, would you by any chance happen to know what happened to it?"

Then I'd wait for his response. If nothing else, you might be able to "pry" it out of him via appealing to his empathy. If he gives up the pillow, I would then wait and leave him a real pillow outside his door. --Because if he took your mother's out of need/necessity, it might be a nice gesture to just give him a "real" pillow. That and the pie would say "No hard feelings."

???

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by Rcm58

-I've thought of putting a note on his door that says "return my mother's hand quilted pillow and I'll give you two others." Unsigned...so not to id myself if I'm a bit off. (But I swear he did it!)

If you decide to leave the note on his door you should make the note with newspaper clippings.
Or go around the neighborhood and staple up flyers with a picture of the missing pillow with the caption "Have You Seen Me"

Hysterical....that is a great idea!

Or ransom...I could send him a picture of his mountain bike with a gun aimed at it's handle bars...."Turn over my pillow and the bike lives."

[Rcm58]

LMAO!

Now you have the right idea.......

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by june 7th

Bake him a pie. Or brownies. Or cookies, whatever. (Hell, you can buy a box of Entemanns if need be.) Go over to his house. Ring the bell. When he answers the door, try the following:

Hi. I just wanted to bring this (the pie) over by way of saying welcome to the neighborhood. I'm not sure whether you realize it, but I had a pillow stolen off my front porch sometime last night...My grandmother hand made it; it had so much sentimental value to me...I'm just wondering, would you by any chance happen to know what happened to it?"

Then I'd wait for his response. If nothing else, you might be able to "pry" it out of him via appealing to his empathy. If he gives up the pillow, I would then wait and leave him a real pillow outside his door. --Because if he took your mother's out of need/necessity, it might be a nice gesture to just give him a "real" pillow. That and the pie would say "No hard feelings."

???

Also...an excellent idea....

I've since learned that another of the "tenants" over there is in the hospital and the guy's mother is in town, staying in his apartment. What are the chances that mom is a quilting klepto?????

[Rcm58]

Could be, you could always put a pillow out on the lawn attached to a hook and real it in slowly till you feel a tug.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by Rcm58

Could be, you could always put a pillow out on the lawn attached to a hook and real it in slowly till you feel a tug.

I just blew coffee out my nose!