Wendy recently retired from her job in an aged-care facility, is quite healthy, and spends much of her time in the garden.Their home is downhill from ...ours, by about the equivalent of one storey. Two-thirds of their backyard is, however, on a similar level to ours. Behind both our yards is a hill, covered by tall trees and vegetation, which is council-owned land, and which gives us total privacy from the homes along the ridge above. We have always been on friendly terms with these neighbours.Our. ‘Are you feeling better, Miss?’ At my nod, he pulled up a chair, looked at me for a moment and sighed. ‘There is no way to sugar coat this. The news is bad, I’m afraid. It looks like the same person or persons set your home on fire. The same message was sprayed on the sidewalk. Someone broke a window with a brick and tossed in another Molotov cocktail. The fire crews are working hard, but I’m afraid the house is going to be a loss.’ I sagged back onto the bed. Thank God I’d never gotten any. That being said, Happy Birthday." She reached up and gave me that kind of cheek to cheek air kiss that Europeans do. The back door slammed."Surprise!" Jennifer and Courtney yelled."Are we too late?" Court asked."Happy birthday, Brian," Anna said as she came into the room. Of course, with Anna coming in, Mom and Dad were right there, but they were carrying a birthday cake with lit candles and everyone started singing to me."What's going on?" I asked when I'd blown out the candles. "My birthday. "Do you need a hand with that?"She straightened up and looked around, bewildered, as she blew a loose strand of hair from her adorable face. She bit her bottom lip and scrunched up her perfect little nose, trying to figure out where the offer was originating."Up here," I shouted. "Hi, I'm Scott, your neighbor. Can I help you with that big box?" Hi Scott," she replied. "I'm Carla. Thought you'd never introduce yourself. I don't mean to be a pain, but I'll never get this stuff upstairs without.