Two families are at the park enjoying a Saturday afternoon spring day. They are forced by the crowds to set up camp on the outer edges of the grass bordering the sidewalk and the street. They are together, but not by choice.

 

                These two families are enemies. They live next door to each other, but they are worlds apart in their lifestyles. One family is a professional couple with two children, a registered purebred dog and a manicured lawn. Their house is beautifully painted and decorated inside and out. They go to bed early and rise up early also. Their habits are consistent with their careers, carefully managed and quietly carried out.

 

                The neighbors however, are very different. The property line between these two houses is like the border of a war torn third world nation. Trash, weeds, and broken toys litter the front of this house. One of the front windows has plywood haphazardly nailed over it. There are numerous cats living under and around the house and garbage cans. This family stays up late, blasting their music till the wee hours. They have friends like them, coming over at all hours of the night, who honk their horns at midnight instead of getting out and walking to the door. They are the dregs of the whole neighborhood, avoided by the rest of those who live on this street.

 

                The professional couple almost chose to forgo their planned outing to the park when they see that they will be in close proximity to this bunch. After much debate among themselves, they reluctantly give in to the children’s insistent urgings. They get set up while the children play in the park. This couple watches their children closely, monitoring their positions and activities. The neighbors however, let their children run wild; these kids are interfering with the other kids as they play, taking their toys and bullying all the other children. Everyone knows these neighbors; some of you may have them next door to you today.

 

                The neighbors are not watching their children at all; they are lying on a blanket, drinking beer and falling in and out of sleep, totally oblivious to their surroundings. The first couple is careful while the neighbors are careless, go figure! These parents have put the older siblings in charge of the three year old while they sleep and as you can guess, they have completely forgotten about him.

 

                Then it happens, the toddler of this wild tribe is heading for the street, running across the sidewalk toward the busy road, chasing a ball between the parked vehicles while the cars fly by. Without hesitation the neighbor’s dad jumps up and runs toward the street toward the toddler with almost superhuman speed, yelling “stop” in vein as he goes. He reaches out and grabs the little boy as the car approaching slams on its brakes, screeching tires and horns blasting. The car almost hits the man and the boy, but thankfully both are okay.

 

                The neighbors are still on their blanket, although they are now sitting up startled by all of the commotion. The man brings the child to them and they begin yelling at the kid, no thanks offered to the neighbor who just risked his life for their child. This brave and selfless man returns to his place next to his wife, shaken by his experience.

 

                He does not wonder why he acted this way, nor consider that he has risked his life for the offspring of his neighbor whom he loathes. Why did he do that?