Impolite Neighbor Takes Down Neighbor's Tree, Faces Regret

As Vigo's rage rose through his body, he felt his body tremble. It had been his intention to prevent his neighbor from chopping down his tree. When he was at work, his wife called him while he was on the phone. “He’s doing it!” She shouted with urgency.

Leaving work early wasn't an option for him. It turned out that his neighbor knew something about the tree that he didn't. 

Vigo had been experiencing rage ever since he received the phone call. Despite his efforts, he was unable to get anything done at work. It was imperative that he rush home as soon as possible.

The time finally arrived for him to head to the car at five o'clock. It was his goal to drive as fast as he could without breaking any laws. As he looked at what was happening, he wondered if he would be able to stop it in time.

He finally made it home after twenty minutes. He was horrified to see the carnage his neighbor had left for him when he pulled into his driveway. There was now a melancholy stump in place of his beautiful tree.

In the end, he was too late. Despite his best efforts, he could not prevent his neighbor from destroying his tree. He knew he would make sure his neighbor paid as he fell to his knees and examined the wreck.

It was very stupid of Vigo's neighbor to do what he did. He was unaware of what he had actually done when he destroyed the tree. As a result, Vigo's house had no more shade, but there were other, much greater consequences as well.

A frustrated sigh escaped his lips. It was a pettiness on the part of the foolish neighbor. Vigo would be breathing down Vigo's neck now.

Damage control was now the priority for Vigo. In spite of his wish never to have to call that number, he pulled out his phone. The only thing he said once they answered was, "He did it. My neighbor actually did it.”

Following these words, he put his phone down and ended the call. His neighbor will only understand what he did once he receives the bill, and justice will be served soon.

Vigo Johanson lived in the Netherlands with his beautiful wife. He wasn't much noticed by most people who passed him on the street. His appearance suggested he was just getting by like any other regular Joe.

Vigo, however, harbored a secret that was quite important. It was a secret he couldn't share with anyone. At home, it manifested itself in his hobbies. In spite of everything he nurtured and tended to, his tree was his favorite.

There was nothing Vigo loved more than nature. Spring was his favorite time to tend to his garden, and winter was his favorite time to watch the green emerge from the snow. He looked to other things in nature during the cold months while his garden hibernated.

Among all the things he loved most in his garden, there was one thing he loved most. The tree sat in the front yard of his house. Others, however, hated it.

The tree was hated by Vigo's neighbor, Henrick. His yard was always filled with leaves and berries in autumn and spring. The neighbor disliked having to sweep them up and wished to discuss his concerns with Vigo.

While Vigo knew he hated the tree, he had never actually done anything until now. It wasn't the first time he had muttered something under his breath to it.

Vigo noticed his neighbor looking at the tree as he came back from a run. He looked frustrated and angry. He knew his neighbor was miserable because of the tree, but he had no choice but to keep it.

His neighbor noticed him running past on his way to his house at that moment. The opportunity presented itself for him to approach him. An unreasonable request was made by him.

As Vigo approached, he prepared himself for the conversation he was about to have. "Hello," he said. “You need to do something about that tree. It’s messing up my yard.” 

Henrick would bring up his tree, he knew. However, he had no solution for the frustrated man. There was no way he was going to back down.

The two men were about to butt heads. “I’m sorry, but I can’t think of any way to solve your problem,” Vigo said. He felt back for his neighbor, but there really was nothing he could do.

Unfortunately for him, his neighbor wasn’t going to stay reasonable and level-headed forever. He was going to snap.

Vigo thought that the matter was settled. The next week, he noticed his neighbor cleaning up the berries and leaves from his yard. Was this the compromise that he had come to?

He considered helping the man out. Maybe he should help pay for a garden service every so often when it gets bad. But before Vigo could put any plans into fruition, his neighbor would do the unthinkable.

Henrick was sick and tired of cleaning up a mess that wasn’t even his. That’s when he did something that no one expected. One evening, Vigo got home to see Henrck waiting for him.

He had a deranged look in his eye. Vigo got out of his car quickly to confront him, but that’s when he noticed that he had something in his hand. But when he realized what it was, his blood went cold.

The neighbor ran up to Vigo and shouted, “That tree has caused me pain for the last time. If you don’t do something about it, I will!” As he ran to the man. Then Vigo realized what he was holding.

In his hand was a long woodcutting ax. That’s when he realized just how far the man was willing to go to get rid of the tree. He had to talk some sense into him.

“Look at yourself! Gain some sense, and then we can talk about a resolution. But I can tell you can’t be reasoned with right now.” Vigo shouted at the man. He looked down at the ax and started shaking.

He turned around and headed back to his house. But he had shown his hand. Vigo now knew that the man was serious.

Vigo headed inside after the confrontation and noticed that his wife had been watching from the window. She had a look of grave concern on her face. “I thought he was going to kill you!” She shouted.

But Vigo assured her it was only because of the tree that he was wielding an ax. But that didn’t excuse him. Especially now that he had snapped.

The next day, Vigo had to head to work while his wife stayed home to look after the property. She worked primarily from home and could keep an eye on things while he was away.

But little did the couple know that Henrik wasn’t going to work either. He was sitting in his living room, busy plotting a scheme to make sure that he would be rid of the tree and the pains that came with it.

Just a few hours after Vigo left for work, Henrick had a delivery truck drop a parcel off. Vigo’s wife, Joanna, watched from the window. What was he plotting?

Then, just minutes later, Henrick came out with what had just been delivered. He had upgraded from his ax and headed towards the tree. Joanna couldn’t believe what she saw. She had to call Vigo.

Henrick had finally snapped. He had ordered a chainsaw online and had it delivered just minutes ago. He filled it up with petrol and then headed straight for the tree.

There was a fire in his eyes that burned with hate. He wanted that tree gone, but he didn’t know why Vigo was insistent on keeping it up. He’d soon learn the hard way.

Vigo felt rage rising up through his body. He had told his neighbor not to chop down his tree. But that’s when he got a phone call from his wife while he was at work. “He’s doing it!” She said with urgency in her voice.

He couldn’t just leave work early. But there was something about the tree that his neighbor didn’t know. 

Ever since the phone call, Vigo felt rage coursing through his body. He tried to focus on work, but he couldn’t get anything done. He needed to rush home at the first opportunity.

Finally, five o’clock rolled around, and he raced to his car. He drove as fast as he dared without breaking any laws. He wondered if he would be fast enough to stop what was going on.

After twenty minutes, he finally got home. But pulling into his driveway, he saw the carnage that his neighbor had left for him. Where his beautiful tree once stood was now a melancholy stump.

He was too late. He couldn’t prevent his neighbor from destroying the tree in his yard. As Vigo fell to his knees and examined the wreck, he knew he would make sure his neighbor paid.

Vigo’s neighbor had done something very stupid. He had no idea what he had actually done in destroying the tree. Not only did that mean Vigo had no more shade over his house, but it also had other, much greater consequences.

He shook his head in frustration. The foolish neighbor had done it for the pettiest of reasons. But now Vigo would be breathing down his neck.

Vigo now had to do something he wished he never would. With a long sigh, he removed his phone from his pocket and dialed the number he had always dreaded calling. This was all his neighbor’s fault. 

As soon as he heard the voice on the other end of the line, he sighed and breathed into his phone. “He did it. My neighbor actually did it.” Henrick had no idea what he was in for.

The voice on the other end of the line spoke, and Vigo listened intently as they gave him instructions. For now, he had to wait inside his house until they arrived. 

Once the conversation was over, he ended the call and slipped the device back into his pocket. Soon, justice would be served, and once his neighbor got the bill, only then he’d understand what he did.

For just a moment, Vigo stood silently in the middle of his yard as he observed the mess his neighbor had made. His grass was covered in leaves and bark, and the tree was in bits and pieces.

He was beyond furious. He had always loved the tree that stood tall and wide in the middle of his yard. But now, it had been destroyed.

His wife stood staring from the kitchen window as he ran a hand through his messy hair, frustrated. If only Henrick had listened to him, none of this would have happened.

He feared what would happen when they showed up. What would they do to his neighbor? Would he have to suffer the consequences, too? He didn’t want to admit it, but he was terrified of what was to come. 

After taking a deep breath, Vigo walked into his house. He sat down on his chair in the living room and thought about what had happened. He couldn’t protect Henrick from what was coming his way. 

If only his neighbor had listened to him, none of this would be a problem. But there was nothing he could do now. He just had to accept it.

Time seemed to crawl as Vigo waited anxiously in his living room. He could hear the distant sirens approaching, signaling the arrival of the authorities he had called. They were the ones who would deliver the harsh lesson to Henrick.

As he waited, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of repercussions his neighbor would face. He had no idea that his actions would set off a chain of events that would forever alter their relationship and their lives.

If only he had listened to him, then things would have been different, and it didn’t have to go this far. He had given him several warnings, which Henrick chose to ignore.

All Vigo knew was that his neighbor was in serious trouble, and there was nothing that he could do to help him. And why should he? 

Henrick was a stubborn man. Vigo had tried his utmost to, but there was no stopping him. The deed was done.

Vigo just hoped that the authorities that were making their way to him would not think that it was him who did it. Luckily, his wife had witnessed the whole ordeal, and she even had it on video as evidence.

They knew all along that one Henrick would do something. And that’s why she had recorded it in order to save them from any trouble.

Vigo let out a sigh of relief. At least his wife had covered for them in this regard because he knew what was coming, and it would not be pretty, especially for Henrick.

Now, it was just a matter of waiting for them to arrive. Vigo even felt a little sorry for his neighbor. He didn’t want to be in his shoes when they showed up and questioned him.

What he did was wrong, and now he would have to pay the consequences of his actions. All because of his unwillingness to listen to Vigo.

His wife stood in the doorway to the living room and watched her husband as he sat with his head in his hands. She knew what the consequences would be, and she too feared what was to come. 

It wouldn’t be long before “they” would arrive. Henrick had no idea what he had just done. All Vigo could do was sit and wait to hear the car arrive to give him his payback.

His wife slowly walked into the room. She wanted to comfort her husband, but she didn’t know how. They knew that the tree had been bothering Henrick, but they never expected him to act this way.

Why on earth did he think he had the right to step onto their lawn and do that to their property? He’d made a stupid mistake, but now, he would have to face serious consequences.

It didn’t take long for Vigo to hear it. The sound of an engine got closer and closer until it was right outside of his house. He looked outside and saw a black car parked on the pavement.

His heart was beating fast in his chest. When he’d first moved into the property, the previous owner warned him of what would happen if he chopped down the tree, but he never thought this would actually happen.

With tensed shoulders, he looked out of the window, his eyes not leaving the vehicle. He watched with wide eyes as a group of men stepped out of the car and into his yard. 

They wasted no time as they walked up to the tree stump. They started examining it. That’s when Vigo decided to step outside. He knew his neighbor’s fate was sealed.

As Vigo stepped out of his front door, one of the men turned to face him, a stern look on his face as he stepped up to the clearly worried man. He wasn’t messing around and got straight to business. 

“We received a call that one of your neighbors did this, is that correct?” he asked with suspicious eyes, clearly angry about what had happened.

Vigo nodded and rubbed his sweaty palms against his jeans. “Yes, sir,” he responded, trying to build some confidence as he continued. “My next-door neighbor, Henrick. He has been threatening to cut the tree down for weeks now,” he explained. 

The man wrote this information down, listening intently as Vigo retold the story. “And did you warn your neighbor not to?”

“Yes,” He rubbed a hand across his forehead, “Yes, sir. I warned him again and again. Recently, he bought a chainsaw and threatened to use it on the tree. When I left for work this morning, the tree was still intact.”

The man nodded, writing every last detail into his small notebook. “My wife called me while I was at work. She had witnessed him doing this.”

As Vigo looked up at his neighbor’s house, he noticed Henrick standing on his front porch, watching with a frown on his face as the group of men inspected the leaves and branches on the floor. 

He had no idea what was going on, but he was about to learn a costly lesson. “That’s him right there,” Vigo said, pointing at the man.

After Vigo explained what had happened to the men, they immediately turned to look at Henrick’s house and approached it. They walked up to him as he stood on his front porch, watching them approach with suspicious eyes. 

Henrick was anything but warm and inviting as the men stepped up to him. Vigo stood in his yard, watching shamelessly.

The same man who had spoken to Vigo quickly extended a hand out to Henrick, which he shook hesitantly. He wanted to know what this was about. 

“Hello, sir, we’re with the government, and we’re here to enforce the Nature Protection Act. Do you know what kind of tree you cut down, sir?” The man in charge asked the neighbor.

The frustrated neighbor shook his head angrily, knowing that they were there for him. The man then explained that what he had cut down was a Juniper tree.

A lot of people were unaware that they were endangered in the Netherlands. “It has been making a mess all over my property, and they were refusing to do anything about it. I did what I had to do,” he tried to explain himself, but it was too late. 

The man from the government sighed, clearly unimpressed with Henrick's explanation. "I understand your frustration, sir, but the Juniper tree is a protected species in this region. Chopping it down without the necessary permits is a serious offense," he stated firmly.

Henrick's face paled as he began to grasp the gravity of his actions. He hadn't realized that the tree he had destroyed was so valuable in the eyes of the law.

The government officials wasted no time in informing Henrick of the legal ramifications he would face. He could be subject to hefty fines, community service, and even potential jail time for his reckless act.

Henrick stammered, trying to come up with excuses, but the officials weren't swayed. They were well-versed in dealing with cases like this, and they were determined to uphold the law.

One of the officials continued to educate Henrick about the environmental impact of his actions. He explained that the Juniper tree was not just a nuisance; it played a crucial role in the local ecosystem. It provided habitat for various wildlife, improved air quality, and helped prevent soil erosion.

Henrick's face grew even more ashen as he realized the broader implications of his impulsive decision. He had not only violated the law but also harmed the environment.

While Henrick was being informed of the legal consequences, the rest of the government team began assessing the damage and formulating a plan for cleanup and restoration. They discussed replanting a new Juniper tree and restoring the area to its previous state.

Vigo watched as his neighbor's shoulders slumped in defeat. It was clear that Henrick had underestimated the seriousness of his actions and the dedication of the authorities to protect the environment.

As the gravity of his situation sunk in, Henrick hung his head in shame. He had thought that chopping down the tree would solve his problems, but now he was facing a much bigger crisis.

Vigo couldn't help but feel a mixture of satisfaction and sympathy. While he was relieved that justice was being served, he couldn't help but feel sorry for his neighbor, who had let frustration and anger cloud his judgment. But the worst was still to come.

But he had no idea that his excuses wouldn’t work on these men. They were serious about their work, and as far as they were concerned, he had done something terrible, and he had to pay for it. 

The men told him that he would have to pay a hefty fine for what he had done. He seemed bitter about it, but he hadn’t heard how much he’d have to pay.

That’s when they handed him the official statement from the government stating that he had to pay a fine of 18,500 Euros monthly for the next five years. The neighbor couldn’t believe it.

”18,500 Euros?” he asked with wide eyes, his jaw dropping to the ground as he stared at the man before him. The man’s harsh gaze did not falter as he nodded his head.

Henrick shook his head in disbelief. How on earth could this be possible? “Are you serious? That much money for a tree?” He thought that they were playing a prank on him, but they were not.

He’d have to take out a loan or find other means to pay so much. It would total just over 1,12 million Euros or 1,2 million dollars. But luckily, there were other means.

They did give the neighbor an alternative. They told him that he wouldn’t have to pay the fine if he did 8 hours of community service per week. 

He jumped at the opportunity. He had no idea that his simple act could get him into so much trouble. Losing that amount of money would ruin his life. He got so used to cleaning up the berries and leaves. What about trash on the highway?

From that moment on, Henrick spent eight hours every Saturday doing community service. Sometimes, he would volunteer at a local library or animal shelter, other times, he would have to clear trash from the streets.

He learned a valuable lesson that day and even apologized to his neighbor for what he had done. It was anything but pleasant, but he did what he had to do.

Vigo felt bad, but Henrick should have just listened to him. There was no cutting down an endangered species when the government was ready to hand out fines.

Still, at least he would learn his lesson.

Over time, Vigo and Henrick's relationship began to heal. Henrick had learned the importance of respecting nature and abiding by the law. He even helped Vigo plant a new Juniper tree in his yard to replace the one he had destroyed.

As the years passed, the new tree grew tall and strong, providing shade and beauty to both of their properties. It became a symbol of the lessons they had learned and the importance of communication and compromise.

Henrick had truly changed as a person. He became an advocate for environmental conservation in their neighborhood, leading efforts to plant more trees and maintain green spaces. He often shared the story of his costly mistake to remind others of the consequences of recklessness.

Vigo and Henrick's friendship grew stronger, and they often shared stories and laughs over a cup of coffee. They had come a long way from the feud over a tree, and in the end, it had brought them closer together.

The incident had taught both men valuable lessons. Vigo learned the importance of standing up for what he believed in, even if it meant dealing with difficult neighbors. 

Henrick, on the other hand, learned the significance of respecting nature and abiding by the law. He was never going to do what he did again. He couldn’t afford to.

Their neighborhood also benefited from their experience as they worked together to create a more environmentally conscious and harmonious community. 

The Juniper tree, once a source of conflict, now stood as a symbol of their shared journey and the power of redemption. And the lesson also served to educate the neighborhood on endangered plants and animals.

With time, Vigo and Henrick's relationship continued to evolve. They became not just neighbors but friends who supported each other through life's challenges. The incident with the tree, while painful, had ultimately brought positive changes to both of their lives.

As they watched the new Juniper tree flourish, they couldn't help but smile, knowing that it symbolized a fresh start and the importance of understanding, forgiveness, and the enduring power of nature.