A Tree More Than Wood
The house at 847 Maple Grove carried more than walls and memories. It held a living heirloom: a fifty-year-old apple tree planted by my grandparents. That tree shaded my childhood summers, offered crisp Northern Spy apples each fall, and stood as a symbol of love and resilience.
A Clash With the Neighbors
Then new neighbors arrived with their so-called “paradise plans.” Their hot tub dream clashed with my family history. The apple tree, they claimed, blocked their sun. I refused to let them destroy it.
The Act of Trespass
While I was away on vacation, they took matters into their own hands. They trespassed, hired a crew, and cut it down. I came home to find nothing but a stump where half a century of memories once stood.
Fighting Back
They underestimated both the law and my determination. With security footage, witness accounts, and an arborist’s valuation, I built my case. Soon, I sued them in court.
The verdict was clear. They paid $21,000 in damages. As poetic justice, I planted three towering spruce trees that will cast long shadows over their yard for decades.
The Lesson
They thought they could erase my past. Instead, they planted the roots of their own downfall.
