The Cow War
Our neighbor from hell33 total reviews
Comment from Jay Squires
Oh, this should do so well in the contest. Neighbor from Hell, indeed! You could almost smell sulfur on Bob's breath! And poor Dorothy -- to have to put up with that! A fine, entertaining story!
I can't recall how many times Desi, our hired man, Reo, and I helped Dorothy round up the animals. [If I may make one small suggestion here to avoid reader "slowdown" that confusion brings ... I know that Desi is your husband, but here, the way you've written the sentence, it sounds like he's your hired hand. It can be tweaked by putting "Reo" just after "Desi" so it would read: "... how many times Desi, Reo , our hired hand, and I helped Dorothy round up the animals." If it were me, I would put "our hired hand" in parentheses, but that's my personal predilection.]
and drove them home---again. [Only use two dashes (called an EM dash), never three.]
A fine story and a strong contender in the contest.
Jay
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Oh, this should do so well in the contest. Neighbor from Hell, indeed! You could almost smell sulfur on Bob's breath! And poor Dorothy -- to have to put up with that! A fine, entertaining story!
I can't recall how many times Desi, our hired man, Reo, and I helped Dorothy round up the animals. [If I may make one small suggestion here to avoid reader "slowdown" that confusion brings ... I know that Desi is your husband, but here, the way you've written the sentence, it sounds like he's your hired hand. It can be tweaked by putting "Reo" just after "Desi" so it would read: "... how many times Desi, Reo , our hired hand, and I helped Dorothy round up the animals." If it were me, I would put "our hired hand" in parentheses, but that's my personal predilection.]
and drove them home---again. [Only use two dashes (called an EM dash), never three.]
A fine story and a strong contender in the contest.
Jay
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you, and thanks for the tips. I will edit and correct the errors. I can see where that sentence could cause confusion. Thanks again. Two dashes it is. I do know better than that.
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Glad to help. And good luck with the contest.
Jay
Comment from Mrs. KT
Hello, Mystery Writer!
I thoroughly enjoyed and savored every line of your exceptionally well-crafted essay about your neighbor from hell! Both set of my grandparents were farmers, and I recall plenty of stories they shared when I was a little girl of some of their neighbors.
You tell you story with ease and humor.
Thank you for sharing!
Best Wishes!
diane
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Hello, Mystery Writer!
I thoroughly enjoyed and savored every line of your exceptionally well-crafted essay about your neighbor from hell! Both set of my grandparents were farmers, and I recall plenty of stories they shared when I was a little girl of some of their neighbors.
You tell you story with ease and humor.
Thank you for sharing!
Best Wishes!
diane
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you. Dorothy and I were both amused by the antics of those two guys; that is, until it got serious the last time. Like Dorothy said, enough is enough.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
My goodness, what a horror your neighbour Bob is! Isn't it wonderful that women don't have more sense? Why can't men see what they are doing to themselves, let alone to each other, it can't be nice harbouring all that hate. This is definitely a good contest entry, I certainly wouldn't like Bob living next door to me! Well done and good luck! :) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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My goodness, what a horror your neighbour Bob is! Isn't it wonderful that women don't have more sense? Why can't men see what they are doing to themselves, let alone to each other, it can't be nice harbouring all that hate. This is definitely a good contest entry, I certainly wouldn't like Bob living next door to me! Well done and good luck! :) Sandra xx
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you. Bob was a nasty guy, but Desi didn't help matters any. I do think Desi would have let things go if Bob hadn't kept harrassing him.
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Mmmm, mmmm, mmm.
From hell, I guess.
Desi was far too tolerant and lenient.
Very well written piece, well enough written to get me fired up!
Glad it settled out (for the most part)
Best wishes.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Mmmm, mmmm, mmm.
From hell, I guess.
Desi was far too tolerant and lenient.
Very well written piece, well enough written to get me fired up!
Glad it settled out (for the most part)
Best wishes.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you. It never really got settled. Those two guys became grumpy old men and hated each other until they died.
Comment from Olivanne Marsh
While there are two sides to every story, Bob does seem like the neighbor from hell. I want to say I enjoyed reading this story, but it was more like I got right in the middle of squabble of many years. Too bad neither gentleman could bring himself to offer the other an apology...neighbors are supposed to help each other out. Good thing Bob had a sensible wife. Any way, you can tell I got involved and that means the writing was good enough to get and keep me interested.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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While there are two sides to every story, Bob does seem like the neighbor from hell. I want to say I enjoyed reading this story, but it was more like I got right in the middle of squabble of many years. Too bad neither gentleman could bring himself to offer the other an apology...neighbors are supposed to help each other out. Good thing Bob had a sensible wife. Any way, you can tell I got involved and that means the writing was good enough to get and keep me interested.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you. There was no hope of either man apologizing. I do think Desi would have let it go if Bob hadn't kept doing nasty things.
Comment from Teri7
Wow! I am so glad we have cats and not cows! That sounded like a lot to go through with your neighbor. You used very good descriptive words and very good imagery from the art work you chose. That has to be rough on the one cow that was gentle. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes in the contest. Teri
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Wow! I am so glad we have cats and not cows! That sounded like a lot to go through with your neighbor. You used very good descriptive words and very good imagery from the art work you chose. That has to be rough on the one cow that was gentle. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes in the contest. Teri
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you. It was tough on our cow. Milk cows need to be milked at the same time every day or they are miserable. Both men were ornery, and neither would give an inch.
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That was a tough situation!
Comment from royowen
We once had a nirghbour from hell, but he never did anything that bad, he just simply accused me of doing them, if I explained you'd realise my neighbour was a nutcase too. Pity they didn't entertain forgiveness, beautifully written my friend, yes, he was a nutcase, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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We once had a nirghbour from hell, but he never did anything that bad, he just simply accused me of doing them, if I explained you'd realise my neighbour was a nutcase too. Pity they didn't entertain forgiveness, beautifully written my friend, yes, he was a nutcase, blessings Roy
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you. I would like to hear your story someday. I bet it is as interesting as mine.
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Bless you
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
Wow, Mystery Author. Two adult men acting like junior high rivals.
You did a great job detailing their actions. Who would've thought
they could act that way for so long? The wives acted decent through
it all. I'm thrilled the action of the men didn't lead to one or both
getting killed during one of their disagreements. People are weird.
Thanks for sharing and best wishes in the contest, Jan
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Wow, Mystery Author. Two adult men acting like junior high rivals.
You did a great job detailing their actions. Who would've thought
they could act that way for so long? The wives acted decent through
it all. I'm thrilled the action of the men didn't lead to one or both
getting killed during one of their disagreements. People are weird.
Thanks for sharing and best wishes in the contest, Jan
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you. One was as bad as the other. I do think my husband would have let it go if Bob would have backed off and left us alone.
Comment from Tpa
A nice story. Bob seemed to have some bolts and nuts loose. Desi, of course, gave no interest in reducing the feud. I agreed with the wives. Both were immature.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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A nice story. Bob seemed to have some bolts and nuts loose. Desi, of course, gave no interest in reducing the feud. I agreed with the wives. Both were immature.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you. They both acted like a pair of tomcats hissing at one another all the time. In my husband's defense, I think he would have let things go if Bob would have backed off. They would never have been friends though. They were a pair of grumpy old men.
Comment from w.j.debi
What a feud! As you stated in the beginning, you would think with only two neighbors in the area, the two would figure out how to get along. It's a good thing the women got along and could handle the situation like adults.
You have an engaging narrative voice. I was hooked from the first.
Wish I had a six left.
Best of luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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What a feud! As you stated in the beginning, you would think with only two neighbors in the area, the two would figure out how to get along. It's a good thing the women got along and could handle the situation like adults.
You have an engaging narrative voice. I was hooked from the first.
Wish I had a six left.
Best of luck in the contest.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2023
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Thank you, and thanks for the compliment. When I write I imagine myself telling someone the story. Those two guys were enemies until the day they died. Bob passed away first, then Desi a couple of years later.
