At first, it looked friendly. There was a printed sunflower at the top and a cheerful paragraph about community values. But beneath that came a list of reminders.
Mailbox colors must follow approved neighborhood standards.
Exterior mats must not exceed regulated width.
Driveway storage of visible boxes is prohibited beyond six hours.
Temporary moving activity should not disrupt visual harmony.
Jake stared at the paper.
“Visual harmony?” he repeated.
Lena leaned over his shoulder. “Our boxes are offending the street.”
Jake looked across the road.
The woman in the cream cardigan was still watching.
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