Outside, Marcus was enjoying the weather. His father had asked him to wash their SUV, which was parked in the driveway. Marcus put in his earbuds, turned up his favorite hip-hop playlist, and started scrubbing the tires. He was in his own world, wearing an old t-shirt and basketball shorts, enjoying the weekend sun.
Marcus didn't hear the sharp click of Brenda’s heels marching up the driveway. He only noticed her when her shadow fell over the soapy bucket. He pulled out one earbud, offering a polite but cautious nod. "Morning, ma'am."
"Who do you work for?" Brenda demanded, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down.
Marcus frowned, confused. "Excuse me?"
"I asked what landscaping or detailing company you work for. You can't just be out here making a mess. The homeowners here pay good money for peace and quiet."
"I don't work for a company," Marcus replied, keeping his voice even. "I live here."
Brenda scoffed, a harsh, dismissive sound. "Right. And I’m the Queen of England. I know the owners of this house. I need you to pack up your things and leave the premises immediately before I call the authorities for trespassing."
Marcus took a deep breath, remembering his father’s advice about de-escalation. "Ma'am, my dad owns this house. I'm just washing our car. I'm not bothering anyone." He turned back to the SUV, putting his earbud back in, hoping she would just walk away.