Dad turns salty when the ‘fruit fairy’ next door builds a net around their guava tree: ‘I said he could buy some [fruit] off me if he wanted’

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Apr 7, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

Humans like to delineate their property. For lack of better reasoning, it's simply because we don't trust our neighbors not to encroach on our space, take our stuff, or assume our property–it's not pretty, but it's human nature! And especially when your business and livelihood is derived from your lands, it's hard not to get a little overprotective of your things. 

In our next story, a guy gets a little tight-fisted over something that wasn't his in the first place when his neighbor draws a hard line in the sand. After years of living next door to a fruitful guava tree, the guy got used to having the 'fruit fairy' drop delicious tropical delights over the side of the fence, but when the neighbor started a business selling the fruits, he (rightfully) built a net to catch all the wayward fruits that would fall from the tree. 

Although it may seem petty to some that the guava man was unwilling to share the fruits of his labor, you can be the judge on who is entitled to the tumbling spoils of an ancient tropical tree. 

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  • 01
    Hi. I inherited a house from my dad from his passing a few years ago. His house came with the guava tree on the yard. The tree has been there for a good portion of my teen years and is special to me.
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 02
    Me and my wife were one day thinking of ways for extra income and realized we could literally sell off the fruit. Got the permit and started to prepare guava in different ways. For reference, I sell the fruit whole, splice and put into cups, candied, etc.
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 03
    We realized that while the branches weren't exactly hanging over our neighbor's lawn, sometimes guava would either fall over or buck against the fence at the right angle and end up over there. So me and my wife purchased a tree fruit net for the side of the tree that was closer to the neighbors yard. Since then I don't think any fruit fell to their yard which is good.
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 04
    What led me here today is that last week while my wife was out on the lawn, the neighbors kid approached her and asked what happened to the fruits. My wife explained that we keep the fruits in a net so that we can have more. Apparently the kid ran off and came back with their dad who
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 05
    asked my wife the same thing. She explained again and, from what she said, the father looked like he took it personally. Asked if we thought he was stealing and my wife explained no, we didn't think that, we just want to maximize the fruit that falls from our tree since we do use it for some profit.
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 06
    Today the same neighbor knocked on the door and I answered. He asked if we could talk about the fruit tree situation. He said that he thinks it's selfish how my father would freely let the fruits fall wherever but now that I'm here I'm hoarding the fruit. I
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 07
    explained that the tree is my property so whatever comes from the tree is also my property. I said he could buy guava off us if he wanted but he looked more upset that I would even recommend that. I'm glad his
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 08
    kid liked the fruit but now that I'm making money off this I can't just let that happen freely. He called me selfish again and that I could at least **spare a few. I said again he could buy some off me if he wanted. I offered a box for $5
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 09
    Now everytime we see him around he doesn't smile at us which I guess is expected but now they let the dog on our lawn and keeps telling his kid loudly that the "neighbors killed the fruit fairy". Some of the neighbors are still cool with us but it's like we made an enemy from him and I'm feeling slightly guilty for the kid
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 10
    Edit: Advised to add this in too. We started the net when we had a medical bill come up and needed to work on paying it off. I'm being advised to edit this in. The box of fruit was for fruit that was prepped in some way and what I was asked about. My wife
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 11
    was asked for the fruit as a whole. It was when he came to me that he asked about the fruits that were prepared. I thought it was implied because of how the topic differences between me and my wife. I'm putting an ** next to the part I'm talking on . I'm sorry for not making that clear
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 12
    StAlvis 16 hr. ago edited 16 hr. ago Galasstic Overlord [1678] So just to be crystal clear here: The net itself is entirely within your property? It's not suspended in the air over part of your neighbor's yard?
    via StAlvis
  • 13
    Anxious_Sky_254 OP 16 hr. ago Correct, it's not over the fence, it's a tree hey slightly lined against the branches but still breathable 2.5k Reply Share Simple-Status-15 16 hr. ago You're hoarding the fruit??? Lol ΝΤΑ
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 14
    Anxious_Sky_254 OP 16 hr. ago When in doubt, do fruit 1.2k Reply Share Common Native 15 hr. ago Partassipant [1] Just not a banana stand, alright?
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 15
    hellouterus 11 hr. ago Partassipant [2] Reading between the lines I'd say Mr Neighbour was helping himself to as much fruit as he wanted from the tree. NTA.
    via hellouterus
  • 16
    monday-night-fuckbal 16 hr. ago Certified Proctologist [23] NTA BUT it is petty. Are you so hard up you can't spare a few fruit? If that's actually the case then you should say that. This is an easy fix, offer him a few fruit and call it a day, though only offer if he stops letting his dog on your lawn
    via monday-night-fuckbal
  • 17
    Anxious_Sky_254 OP. 16 hr. ago Slightly hard up, working on paying off a medical bill right now so the extra income helps The lawn pooping definitely
    via Anxious_Sky_254
  • 18
    AbbeyCats 15 hr. ago Get a camera. Report him every time he lets his dog drop biohazards. 1.4k Reply Share 30 old_vegetables 14 hr. ago I'd scoop them up with a napkin and fling them at his house
    via AbbeyCats
  • 19
    GundyGalois 18 hr. ago Professor Emeritass [88] NTA Pretty clear. It's your fruit. Do what you want with it, including controlling where it lands. Report him for letting his dog in your yard.
    via GundyGalois
  • 20
    Choice_Mongoose2427 18 hr. ago Certified Proctologist [21] When he talked you about it, it would have been the neighborly thing to offer him a box every year. It's $5 by your accounting. Is a measly $5 worth the bad feelings between neighbors and a kid's happy childhood memories of guavas from next door? Absolutely not. That's why YTA.
    via Choice_Mongoose2427
  • 21
    Is what you're doing legal? Yes. But is what you're doing selfish and unkind? Also yes. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. If I were you, I'd stop by their house and apologize and give them a box of fruit. Tell them that upon further examination you realize you hurt their feelings by your unneighborly actions and let them know you will offer them a box every year going forward.
    via Choice_Mongoose2427
  • 22
    Janesmog98909 · 18 hr. ago. edited 12 hr. ago Partassipant [2] If it's a measly $5 why cant his neighbor just pay it? Why does OP need to give the box for free? And the way the neighbor handled the situation was completely immature. He's just mad he isn't getting it for free anymore but that doesnt make OP an ass for trying to make profit with something that belongs to him. Neighbor can buy fruit anywhere!!!
    via Janesmog98909

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aita neighbors guava neighborhood debate interesting petty guava tree tree net tree Reddit fruit neighbor
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