The Feuding Neighbours

Story Story About Neighbours – Friendships and Understanding

Roxy and Gwenda were neighbours but there was no love lost between them. They were forever at each other’s throat for something or the other.

Their husbands and children were friendly towards each other and Molly and Robbie were often seen playing together at the park with Julian and April, Gwenda’s kids. Molly and Robbie, Roxy’s children expressed their opinion about the feud between their moms to the other two.

“It is high time our moms saw eye to eye now and then,” commented Molly.”I think we have to do something to stop their regular fights and arguments,” added Julian.

“I can’t think of anything,” opined Robbie. “ I’m sure we will find a way to make our moms friends with each other,” said April. One day, the two women reached the fishmonger’s outlet to buy fresh fish for dinner.

“Hello Mr. rick, how are you? Please give me a pound of the best fish you have,” ordered Roxy. “I was here first so Mr. Rick, you will kindly serve me first,” spoke Gwenda, making a bad face at her neighbour.

Lo and behold, the fight had begun once again as to who will get the best fish. Soon the two ladies were screaming and shouting with all their might. Molly, Robbie, Julian and April saw them from afar and cycled fast to Mr. Rick’s outlet of fresh fish.

“Come on mom, your fish is better than aunty’s. Let’s go otherwise you will not finish cooking by dinner time and this fresh fish will become stale,” said Molly, winking at April.

“No mom, your purchase is far better. Their fish looks stale,” added April, rolling her eyes, heavenwards. At last, both the ladies left the shop with their children still trying to pacify them.

Next day, the children met each other while out on a walk. “Have you heard? The mayor has announced that a competition would be held among the ladies of our town?” asked Julian.

“No, what is the competition about?”asked Robbie. “Oh! Are you talking about the home – made strawberry cup cakes?”asked Mollie. “Yes it is,” replied Julian. “This year strawberries are in abundance so this competition has been organized,” added Julian.

“When is the competition going to be held and where?” asked April. “In the town hall this Sunday,” replied her brother Julian. “Do you think our moms will take part in the competition?” asked April. “I’m sure mine will, just to try and beat your mom at the coming event,” giggled Robbie. The others burst out laughing.

“I do hope they don’t get into another fight, otherwise it will look terrible in front of the mayor,” added Molly, his sister. Roxy and Gwenda were more than ready to take part in the cup-cake competition. Gwenda said to her family, “Wait till I show that neighbour of ours what a great cook I am. My cup-cakes will surely win the competition.”

Julian whispered, “There goes mom. I just hope they don’t start arguing at the event.” “Hope so,” added April. Roxy was very calm because she knew her cup-cakes were smashing. She baked them often for her kids. “Mom, who do you think will win the competition?”asked Molly.

“I’m sure mom will. Her cup cakes are out of this world,” spoke Robbie. “I’ll do my best. I just want to have fun,” replied Roxy. “That’s right. We will all enjoy the event,” chorused the children. Both the ladies started preparation and on the day of the competition, arrived at the venue earlier than the rest of the townsfolk.

Slowly and steadily, the rest of the competitors took their places and their families sat down to await the result. The judges were a bit late in coming but at last everything was ready. Everyone taking part in the event wished each other best of luck except Gwenda, who was too worked up about winning to spare time or thought on anyone else.

She ignored Roxy and got busy laying out her cup-cakes for the judges to taste. A little later, the judges got up and went from one table to the other, tasting the goodies. After the tasting was over, they went and sat at their places to discuss whose was the best cup-cake. At last, they made their decision and stood up to announce the winner.

“There is a tie, the cup-cakes on tables number six and nine are equally good. Both will win the prize but will have to share it because it is a set of baking tins and trays,” said the first of the judges.

“Please come forward Roxy and Gwenda from Moonshine Avenue,” spoke the second judge, while the third smilingly offered the big box to both of them. All four kids took the heavy box from their mother’s hands.

“Let’s open and see the contents,” said Julian, excitedly. The box contained different sizes of baking equipment. “I want the big ones because I have a bigger oven than yours Roxy,” said Gwenda. “You are welcome to the whole box Gwenda, I have enough at home,” said Roxy, marching towards her car, Robbie and Molly following.

Gwenda happily took home the full box, April and Julian going with her. After this incident, the two women never spoke to one another and turned the other way when their paths crossed. The children were very upset by their moms behaviour and wanted the situation to improve. They discussed this problem but could find no solution. “We must do something to stop this Cold War between our moms,” lamented Robbie.

“Yes, we have to do something,” agreed Molly. “We have to have a plan to move forward if we want this awful situation to become tolerable,” pointed out Julian. “Well, we have to go and do our homework now. Why don’t we meet on Sunday morning at the park and discuss our plan,” spoke April. “Yes let’s, I too have to finish my English homework,” suggested Molly. Sunday morning saw the four kids sitting on the park bench with one thought in mind.

“I can’t think of anything which will end this feud between our mothers,” said April, worriedly. “I know, but there has to be something which will help solve this problem,” observed her brother, Julian. “I have an idea. My moms birthday is next week. What if we take her to the newly opened cafe at the mall for tea and you bring your mom there too for refreshments. We won’t be visible till you are right inside,” planned Robbie. “As soon as mom sees you all, she will march out the restaurant,” agonised April.

“We will beg auntie to join us for mom’s birthday celebrations. I’m sure she will stay,” spoke Robbie, hopefully. “Yes, I think this plan might work,” added his sister, Molly, enthusiastically. The children went back home with renewed hope and happiness. As planned, Saturday evening saw Roxy’s family at the new cafe called ‘Starlit Cafe’.

The group was ordering food when in walked Gwenda’s family. Their father went and met the other family but Gwenda started going out from the cafe. Robbie ran up to her begging her to join them for a celebration but Gwenda didn’t agree.

Roxy got up and going up to Gwenda said, “It’s my birthday Gwen. Won’t you join my party. I’m sorry for our disagreements and arguments but it’s time to make amends and stop our mutual dislike for each other and try to be friends. After all we are neighbours and it is better to have friendly relationships rather than be at each other’s throats. Don’t you think?”

Gwenda hesitated, then giving a hug to Roxy spoke, “Oh alright! I can never resist a piece of chocolate cake anyway.” The others burst out laughing and that was the beginning of a lasting friendship between the neighbours.

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