Our water bill soared to $214, and I discovered my neighbor secretly siphoning from our outdoor faucet, prompting unexpected advice from my husband.

Marla’s gaze pierced our souls.

“I warned him back in May: spending money to keep the lawn green while drought ravaged us was foolish.”

Her gaze drifted to their neighbor’s lush grass.

“Oh, my God.” She had insisted they cease throwing money at the grass.

It seemed using what they had didn’t concern him.

Ray ran a hand over his forehead.

Last month, the weight of $214 shook our world.