"This event is disruptive." I looked around. People were eating. A little kid was chasing bubbles. The loudest thing nearby was Frank explaining motorcycle suspension to somebody who'd made the mistake of asking one question.
"What's being disrupted?" "The character of the neighborhood." Mrs. Halpern was close enough to hear. She turned. "I bought a house."
Denise looked at her. "What?" I said "I bought a house." Halpern took a bite of pork. "Nobody gave me a list of acceptable lunch guests."
A few people laughed. Denise's face tightened. "That's not what I'm saying." Mrs. Halpern shrugged. "Sounded like it."
Then she walked away. Denise turned toward the riders. "Everyone, I need your attention." Conversations slowed. Bear put down his plate.
This is a private residential community. The HOA has received multiple concerns about today's gathering, and I am asking anyone who does not live here to leave. I stared at her. Denise, she continued. We have rules regarding residential property, nuisance activity, traffic in common areas.
Bear walked over. Jack. "Yeah." "Do you want us to leave?" Denise answered.
"Yes." Bear didn't look at her. Jack, my property, my guess, my answer. "No." Bear nodded.
"Okay." He picked up his plate. Denise stared at him. "I am the president of this HOA." Bear turned.
"Understood." "You don't live here." "Correct." "So you don't understand our rules." "Also correct."
For a second, Denise looked satisfied. Then Bear added, "That's why I'm listening to the guy who invited me." He went back to his food. A few people laughed. Denise heard them.
She looked around. Neighbors, riders, rescue volunteers, people she'd been calling all week. Nobody left. Nobody packed up. Nobody looked scared.
For the first time since I'd known her, Denise gave an order as HOA president, and absolutely nothing happened. Then Howard Bell walked up my driveway carrying a bakery box. Denise turned. "Howard, good. You need to see what's happening.
These people are refusing to leave." He looked at me. "Did Jack ask them to leave?" "No." "Then who are they refusing?"
Denise stared at him. "This is an HOA matter." "Which part?" "The event." "What rule is it violating?"
"I just had them remove structures from common property." Howard nodded and they removed them. "That doesn't resolve the nuisance." "What nuisance?" "The motorcycles."
Howard looked toward the empty street. "Where?" They're parked elsewhere so they're not blocking the street. "No, but any noise complaints?" "I've received concerns."
"Noise complaints?" Denise paused. A rider walked past carrying a full trash bag. Jack, where's the replacement liner? Garage shelf on the right.
Thanks. Howard watched him go, then looked at Denise. "This looks like a fundraiser." "It has gotten completely out of hand." Howard looked around once more completely.
I had to turn away. He wasn't trying to be funny. That was why it was funny. Then Howard asked, "Did you contact residents using the board directory?" Denise didn't answer immediately.
"Several people asked whether the board had authorized warnings about this event,", Howard continued. "I was responding to community concerns." "Was there a board vote?" "No vote was necessary." "Was the board notified?"