My ILI neighbor has owed me $200 for six weeks, as his share of the cost of cutting down a dead tree that straddled our property line.
I saw him outside today, so I grabbed the bill and walked over to him. As I got close, he heard me, turned around, and started backing up towards his door with a look of alarm on his face. He put his hands up as if to warn me off.
I said, "Right. This is the hard part", implying that he was a cheapskate and he needed to pay up. But, that's not what he heard.
He said, "Yes, it IS hard to hand you a check during these times, when we have to keep six feet apart. Wait a moment, and I'll get you the check."
And I was left outside to reflect on how my pessimistic nature is screwing up my interpersonal relationships.