Then, last September, I found the first letter taped to my front door.
It was on official Willow Bend Homeowners Association letterhead, with a little logo of a willow tree at the top.
NOTICE OF VIOLATION. Article 7, Section 4(c) of the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. Feeding of wild animals, including but not limited to birds, squirrels, and waterfowl, is prohibited on any lot within the community. Please cease and desist immediately. A fine of $100 has been assessed to your account.
It was signed by Harold Dennison, President, Board of Directors.
I knew who Harold Dennison was. Everybody in Willow Bend knew who Harold Dennison was. He lived at 402 Larkspur Lane, four houses down, in the biggest house on the street. He was sixty-eight, retired from thirty-five years as an insurance claims adjuster, and he walked the neighborhood every morning at six-thirty with a clipboard. He measured people’s grass. He photographed trash cans left out past the deadline. He once sent a violation notice to the Kowalskis because their Christmas lights were still up on January 16th.
His wife had died two years before Caleb. People said he’d gotten worse since then. Harder. Lonelier. Nobody ever said it to his face.
I went down to his house that afternoon to explain.
He opened the door wearing a cardigan and reading glasses. His living room behind him was spotless. Not a single thing out of place.
“Mr. Dennison, I got your notice. About the crow.”
“Mrs. Whitaker.” He nodded. “The rule is very clear.”
“I understand. But my daughter—she lost her father. The crow has really helped her. It’s just one bird. It’s just a few peanuts in the morning.”
“It’s never just one bird,” he said. “Crows are flock animals. You feed one, you get twenty. They carry disease. They raid trash cans. They leave droppings on cars. The Hendersons across the street have already complained twice about the noise.” He took off his reading glasses. “I’m sorry about your husband. I truly am. But I don’t make exceptions. If I make one for you, I have to make one for everybody.”
“He’s not hurting anybody.”
“Rules are rules, Mrs. Whitaker.” He started to close the door. “Please stop feeding the bird.”
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