Man Hoses Kid To Keep Him Off His Lawn, It Turns Into Daily Routine And A Wholesome Friendship

"It started off as a really bitter relationship."

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• May 10, 2023

In a tranquil suburban neighborhood, OP, a 37-year-old man, lived a peaceful life with his wife and two children, aged 9 and 11. Their days revolved around work, school, and the harmonious humdrum of domestic life.

However, this routine tranquility was disrupted by a neighborhood youngster, whom OP had dubbed 'the soccer kid.' Every day, after soccer practice, the soccer kid would traipse across OP's meticulously maintained lawn, his muddy cleats leaving a trail of destruction.

Initially, OP tried to convey his disapproval with stern looks and polite requests for the kid to alter his route. But the soccer kid, brimming with the rebellious spirit of youth, responded by stomping and twisting his feet into the grass even more.

One day, OP decided to take a more direct approach: he hosed the kid down. As the water hit the boy, he ran off, soaking and startled, and OP felt a small surge of triumph.

But the next day, the soccer kid returned. And instead of running away, he stood firm, smiling as the cool water washed over him after his sweaty soccer practice. This unexpected ritual became their daily routine.

OP would be waiting, hose in hand, and the soccer kid would stand there, letting the water wash over him while they chatted about everything from school to soccer, friends, and OP's work. A strange camaraderie blossomed from this peculiar interaction.

OP's wife, observing this unusual spectacle, was less than thrilled. "You're making us look like childish idiots," she stated her disapproval clear. However, she didn't see the innocent humor in this routine, the unspoken bond that had developed between her husband and the soccer kid.

Despite her admonishment, OP found himself looking forward to these encounters.

OP asks:

OP, a 37-year-old man, lived a peaceful life with his wife and two children, aged 9 and 11.

Every day, after soccer practice, the soccer kid would traipse across OP's meticulously maintained lawn, his muddy cleats leaving a trail of destruction.

OP's wife, observing this unusual spectacle, was less than thrilled

OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a-hole:

He could stop, conforming to his wife's wishes. But something about this harmless interaction, this unlikely friendship, held a certain charm for him. It began as a bitter dispute, but now it felt like a shared joke, an unconventional camaraderie

Accidentally wholesome

Nothing wrong here

The kid is obviously deprived of attention

OP responded:

Maybe OP should do this:

This is a sad and heartwarming story

He is seeking OP out as someone who will genuinely listen to him

OP realized that perhaps the soccer kid wasn't looking for trouble but for attention. Maybe his home didn't offer the warmth and care a child needs. Perhaps his parents were too busy, or there were bigger problems at hand that left the kid seeking attention elsewhere.

The daily hose down, initially a punishment, had somehow transformed into a form of connection, a moment of attention the kid might not be getting elsewhere.

Damjan