Chapter 4: Standing

Neil called the meeting for seven o'clock on Wednesday, in his driveway, with folding chairs.

He had a banner that said BIRCH STREET HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION: EMERGENCY SUBCOMMITTEE.

The word subcommittee had been added in a different marker.

Nineteen neighbors sat down in rows.

Lucy sat beside me with her arms folded.

Elspeth sat in front with a covered dish on her lap, which Neil had already told her twice was not on the agenda.

"Thank you all for coming," Neil said. "The Beldons have announced a trip."

"It's a family trip," I said.

"It is a trip with capacity," said Neil. "And wherever there is capacity, there has to be an order."

He held up a laminated sheet.

"Tonight we establish standing."

Behind him on an easel stood a poster board with three columns.

A small plastic gun hung from one corner on a lanyard.

"Tier One is dues," Neil said. "Households current on association dues for three consecutive years."

A few people nodded.

"Tier Two is tenure. One point for each year on the street."

More people nodded, the older ones faster.

"And Tier Three is lawn."

"Lawn," said Lucy.

"Lawn condition, scored by me from the August inspection. Out of one hundred."

"You score the lawns?" said Garth from the back.

"I score the lawns, Garth, and yours is a forty-one."

"It has panels on it."

"It has panels, a stack of pallets and a trailer," said Neil. "That is not a lawn. That is a staging area."

"It's a work in progress," said Garth.

Neil pressed the plastic gun against a green strip, and it beeped.

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