Half a tree, whole lot of trouble

Lisa and John had cherished their quiet life in their suburban home for over two decades. In their front yard stood a tall, beautiful pine tree they had watched grow for 25 years.

It was more than just a tree to them — it was a symbol of their years spent together, a part of their home.

But their neighbours, Carol and Mark, saw it differently. The branches of the tree hung over their driveway, and they constantly complained about birds making a mess, ruining their carport.

For years, the the retired couple tried to keep the peace, but they refused to cut down their beloved tree. Every conversation with the arrogant neighbours turned into an argument, leaving Lisa and John frustrated.

Then, in 2021, without warning or discussion, Mark did something that left the old man and woman in disbelief.

One morning, they woke up to find their tree had been cut in half. Mark had taken a chainsaw to the side of the tree that hung over his driveway, leaving a sharp, unnatural line where half the tree once stood.

Lisa was heartbroken. She stood staring at the tree, her voice shaking as she asked,

"How could they do this?"

For her, it wasn’t just about the tree being damaged — it was the disregard for their feelings, the years of arguing coming to a painful, ugly end. John was also furious.

“We could’ve worked something out. This wasn’t the answer...” — he said bitterly.

The strange sight caught the attention of the local news, however the real nightmare began when a Google car captured the halved tree. Suddenly, the image was all over the internet.

People were intrigued by the bizarre look of the “Half Tree,” and soon, the couple's once-quiet street became a tourist attraction. Strangers walked by every day, taking pictures and even leaving reviews online.

What had started as a little disagreement had spiraled out of control. Lisa felt like their home, once a sanctuary, was now on display for the world to see.

“It’s like we’re living in a fishbowl” — she said. John felt helpless too. No matter how many times they asked for privacy, people kept coming to see the tree. Their peaceful retirement had been shattered, and their beloved tree had become a symbol of everything that had gone wrong.

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

Author's note: a photo of a uniquely cut tree in front of two neighboring houses went viral on Google Maps, attracting unexpected attention and turning the area into a tourist spot called "Half Tree." This situation arose from a long-standing dispute between Irene and Graham Lee, who wanted the tree trimmed because of mess and safety concerns, and the Mistry family, who loved it. In 2021, Mr. Lee cut the tree in half to resolve the issue, which drew local and global interest. Despite attempts to keep their privacy, the neighborhood has become a popular destination for visitors, creating ongoing tension among the residents.

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