I went back home and installed a security camera, often referred to as a Ring cam, near my front door. The footage I collected over the next few days showed that Matteo was doing much more than just the doorbell trick. He was drawing messy shapes on my mailbox with chalk, carelessly pulling flowers from my planters, and at one point, it looked like he even deliberately spit on the welcome mat.
With the video evidence clearly showing the date, time, and his actions, I walked back to their house. Renata wasn’t home, but her teenage daughter, Araceli, answered the door. She looked visibly exhausted, likely from school or a job. When I asked for her mom, she said she was out and politely asked what I needed.
Araceli’s reaction was measured and honest. She didn’t try to make excuses for her brother. She just watched the footage with a tight jaw. “I’ll take care of it,” she said in a quiet, flat voice.
The following morning, I woke up to Renata’s angry text: “Was that really necessary? He’s been crying all afternoon!” I chose not to reply. The message had been delivered, and I hoped that would be the end of the issue.
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