I Heard Snophix Is Delightful This Time Of Year

There is a theory being bandied around about Mr. Richards. Simply, he has been abducted by aliens. On occasion the mothership gets tired of him and releases him into the wilds of Birmingham.

In the event you might think this would be any different if Mr. Richards lived next door, I assure you, nope, it wouldn't be. There is a lease in place. Legally I don't have rights to the home unless I can prove abandonment or Mr. Richards decides to send me a postcard telling me he has moved on.

Our question arises because we just don't know what is happening inside the home. For example, the power is off at Mr. Richard's home. So, nobody is living there?

There is tin foil on all the windows. Carolsue put a note on his door last week and someone pulled it off. Then one day the windows were opened a crack. Therefore, someone is living there?

Because there is no power, Legal Eagle and I were theorizing perhaps there are squatters, taking advantage of a roof over their heads and a place to deal drugs. Of course, this is not an ideal situation, but a heck of a lot easier to handle than a tenant who refuses to move. With squatters, all I need to do is get the sheriff out there to haul their butts to jail.

However, there is now a new development. The lawn is mowed. So, if these are squatters, they are tidy squatters. If indeed the aliens got sick of Mr. Richards and sent him back to Alabama--to live in the dark--he took it upon himself to freeload from me with a manicured lawn.

There comes a moment when the law allows someone to act as a reasonable person. In this case, we cannot verify who is occupying the property--if anyone. Acting as a reasonable person, it is time to find out. Mr. Richards will not return phone calls (and never had e-mail). I find it hard to believe Mr. Richards is living in the sweltering heat, in the dark.

Monday Carolsue is going over with a locksmith to verify. The locksmith can open the home, and Carolsue can peek her head in and see what is up. If she finds someone other than Mr. Richards she can call the sheriff. If she finds Mr. Richards on a surgical table with residents from Planet Snophix standing over him with a scalpel, she can just politely close the door and call the National Inquirer.

In either case, I will then have an answer. I hope.