Instead of apologizing, Monica became defensive.
“You live alone,” she said. “How much electricity could you possibly need?”
I stared at her.
She continued.
“I have three kids. I have errands to run. I need my car.”
Then came the part that really irritated me.
“You’re retired. You just sit at home.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Apparently, because I lived alone and was retired, my property—and the electricity I paid for—was somehow available for her convenience.
Monica had a beautiful home.
Her yard was professionally landscaped.
She had three children.
And she had recently purchased a brand-new electric vehicle.
There was nothing about her situation that suggested she couldn’t pay for her own charging.
This wasn’t someone desperately trying to keep the lights on.
She simply didn’t want to pay for something when she thought she could get it for free.
This Wasn’t the First Time
As I stood there looking at her charging cable, I suddenly remembered several other incidents.