29 May, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt (Day 3118) Part 5 | Prompt: throw him under the bus (echarle la culpa a él)
Published on HivePostify by @justclickindiva · Fri Aug 21 2026
[Source](https://www.pexels.com/photo/scenic-garden-path-with-vibrant-pink-flowers-29334107/)
>! [Recap Parts 1 Thru 4] > >Beverly Buckley, a soon-to-be empty nester was feeling peculiar came that particular summer when she decided to shake things up a bit in her household. Her husband, Lionel was the perfect target to "throw under the bus" after a mishap in their subdivision involving the death of the community petunias. >Running for re-election, Preston Milworth, HOA President, desperately needed to find the culprit before their next HOA meeting. An anonymous tip lead him to Lionel Buckley. Following up, he approached Lionel and his quirky next door neighbor, Stanley. > >Confused and unable to state his case properly, Preston concluded that Lionel was guilty. Stanley's theory was that for years, their HOA was an undercover militia outfit intending to break Lionel. > >Inside, Beverly watched through the blinds, listening to her husband and his best friend attempt to formulate a strategy to counteract the HOA, sipping her coffee and shaking her head with bitter satisfaction. However, Beverly didn't count on Preston's vindictive nature. > >The HOA sent a Demand Letter demanding $5K as restitution for the damaged flowers. The neighborhood petunia crisis mushroomed into a full-blown assault on her husband with financial consequences she didn't anticipate in her "throw him under the bus" prank.
Summer of the Great Petunia Poisoning and Other Dilemmas - Part 5
Fresh from his shower two hours later, Lionel bolted into the kitchen where Beverly was almost finished preparing dinner. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched comically as he paced back and forth.
"Not like Stanley to disappoint. Been calling him the past two hours. Seems like he's gone radio silent on me."
Again, Beverly stifled a laugh, wondering if her husband's newest terminology stemmed from his best friend, the military man.
Casually, she mentioned, "I recalled seeing a visitor pull up in Stanley's driveway yesterday. Looked like his young niece I've spotted visiting before but never spoken to. He may be busy entertaining her."
"Oh, yes, Stanley's niece." Lionel smiled broadly. "Lovely young lady. He confided that she's a local actress, hoping to catch her big break."
Lionel's enthusiastic response upon learning Stanley's niece was as close as within walking distance wasn't lost on Beverly. She chuckled, thinking, no harm no foul, dismissing the wide smile on his face as quickly as she noticed it. He couldn't do any damage even if he wanted to. Instead of responding to his delightful fancy, she diverted his attention back to the Demand Letter.
"Let's not dwell on that letter tonight. I'm almost finished with a lovely dinner. Let enjoy so that we'll have a clear head to solve this. The HOA has made its first move. Now, we'll counter."
Lionel jerked his head back and stared dumbfounded at his wife. Her helping me. It isn't even Christmas. More in tune to helping retain her savings, Beverly ordered Lionel to retrieve the demand letter from the living room.
After dinner, Lionel settled into his favorite past-time.
As she re-read what seemed like an extortion spilling over into a personal vendetta writing, Preston's voice loomed large. And the sound irked her. That snake knows Lionel and Stanley; but he has no inkling of my power, she fumed. If the situation were to be solved, I'll have to undertake the venture myself.
What started out as a harmless prank to throw him under the bus had mushroomed into a full-blown catastrophe. Of course, she wasn't going to allow the predicament to go any further without decisive action. The kind of action that Lionel and Stanley had no idea how to successfully undertake, she surmised.
She'd work to do. And it wasn't strolling down the primrose path of amateur hour.
She took a slow, deep breath. At the end of it, three issues materialized.
Lower Preston Milworth's temperature, cutting him off at the knees if necessary. De-escalate the HOA's demand. Minimize her husband and his sidekick's growing neighborhood status she recently learned about.
All to be accomplished in a few days before the HOA Board Meeting without ruining her own reputation. Embarrassing her husband was one thing, but affecting her pocketbook costing her thousands of dollars for that embarrassment was another.
Her eyes rolled upward. Thought gremlins scrambled wildly searching for an amicable solution other than draining their savings earmarked for her summer vacation.
Her eyes widened as a smile slowly developed. She rose quickly and headed upstairs.
Digging deep within her private secretary, she pulled out the diary, then sat, flipping through its pages until she landed on the subject that potentially might be a solution to her problems.
There, on page seventy-five was the answer staring back at her.
Beverly brightened the desk lamp and leaned back in her office chair. She'd heard about Preston Milworth's neighborhood antics and documented them, but didn't have direct proof.
She kept searching. There in her almost forgotten notes was a summary of the brief encounter she had with Preston fifteen years ago. It was during the first month they moved into the neighborhood. She successfully nipped his advances in the bud before he had a chance to finish his come-on line. Her response installed an invisible, respectable, permanent hedge row between them.
His chilly reception toward her ever since was a welcome relief.
Over the years, the incident faded into the background of life. She had to admit thought that afterward, she'd learned that the HOA President visited her home with citations for minute infractions more often than her neighbors.
Granted, Lionel wasn't the model homeowner she'd expected, but she made do, often undertaking the tasks herself or procuring handymen to complete numerous unfinished household chores, both inside and out.
On second thought, Stanley hit on an item that did ring true. Preston had a vendetta against Lionel. She could understand to a certain extent, but she didn't contemplate him using his full authority to attempt to take her husband down financially with the silly Petunia episode just because he couldn't rattle her.
And she knew for a fact that those damn flowers weren't going to win anything but the prize for the most failed, cost-expensive subdivision endeavor. But it wasn't about the flowers. It was about Preston's blossoming ego over the years and his attempt to hold onto the presidential power he craved for several more.
Time was of the essence. The day was Thursday, and she needed to act quickly.
[to be continued]
My story is based on [29 May 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3118: throw him under the bus](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@daily.prompt/29-may-2026-freewriters-community-daily-writing-prompt-day-3118-throw-him-under-the-bus)
[Source](https://www.pexels.com/photo/scenic-garden-path-with-vibrant-pink-flowers-29334107/)
>! [Resumen de las partes 1 a 4] > >Beverly Buckley, a quien pronto se le vaciaría el nido, se sentía un poco rara aquel verano en particular, cuando decidió dar un giro a las cosas en su hogar. Su marido, Lionel, era el blanco perfecto al que «echar la culpa» tras un percance en su urbanización que había provocado la muerte de las petunias de la comunidad. >Preston Milworth, presidente de la comunidad de propietarios y candidato a la reelección, necesitaba desesperadamente encontrar al culpable antes de la próxima reunión de la comunidad. Una pista anónima le llevó hasta Lionel Buckley. Tras investigar un poco, se acercó a Lionel y a su peculiar vecino de al lado, Stanley. > >Confundido e incapaz de exponer su caso adecuadamente, Preston llegó a la conclusión de que Lionel era el culpable. La teoría de Stanley era que, durante años, su comunidad de propietarios había sido una milicia encubierta con la intención de acabar con Lionel. > >En el interior, Beverly observaba a través de las persianas, escuchando cómo su marido y su mejor amigo intentaban trazar una estrategia para contrarrestar a la comunidad de propietarios, mientras tomaba un sorbo de café y negaba con la cabeza con amarga satisfacción. Sin embargo, Beverly no contaba con el carácter vengativo de Preston. > >La comunidad de propietarios envió una carta de requerimiento exigiendo 5.000 dólares como indemnización por las flores dañadas. La crisis de las petunias del barrio se convirtió en un auténtico ataque contra su marido, con consecuencias económicas que ella no había previsto en su broma de «tirarlo bajo el autobús».
El verano del gran envenenamiento por petunias y otros dilemas - Parte 5
Dos horas más tarde, recién salido de la ducha, Lionel entró corriendo en la cocina, donde Beverly ya casi había terminado de preparar la cena. Con el rabillo del ojo, ella observó con gracia cómo él iba de un lado a otro.
«No es propio de Stanley decepcionarme. Llevo dos horas llamándole. Parece que ha dejado de dar señales de vida».
Una vez más, Beverly contuvo la risa, preguntándose si la nueva jerga de su marido procedía de su mejor amigo, el militar.
Con naturalidad, comentó: «Recuerdo haber visto ayer a una visitante aparcar en el camino de entrada de Stanley. Parecía su sobrina pequeña, a la que he visto de visita antes, pero con la que nunca he hablado. Quizá esté ocupado entreteniéndola».
«Ah, sí, la sobrina de Stanley». Lionel esbozó una amplia sonrisa. «Una joven encantadora. Me confió que es una actriz local que espera dar el gran salto».
A Beverly no se le pasó por alto la entusiasta reacción de Lionel al enterarse de que la sobrina de Stanley estaba tan cerca que se podía ir andando hasta allí. Se rió entre dientes, pensando «no pasa nada», y descartó la amplia sonrisa de su rostro tan pronto como la percibió. Él no podría hacer ningún daño aunque quisiera. En lugar de responder a su encantadora fantasía, desvió su atención de nuevo hacia la carta de requerimiento.
«No nos quedemos pensando en esa carta esta noche. Ya casi he terminado de preparar una cena estupenda. Disfrutemos de ella para tener la mente despejada a la hora de resolver esto. La comunidad de propietarios ha dado el primer paso. Ahora nos toca contraatacar».
Lionel echó la cabeza hacia atrás y miró atónito a su mujer. Ella ayudándome. Ni siquiera es Navidad. Más preocupada por conservar sus ahorros, Beverly ordenó a Lionel que fuera a buscar la carta de reclamación al salón.
Después de cenar, Lionel se dedicó a su pasatiempo favorito.
Mientras releía lo que parecía un texto de extorsión que se desbordaba en una venganza personal, la voz de Preston se imponía con fuerza. Y ese sonido la irritaba. «Esa serpiente conoce a Lionel y a Stanley, pero no tiene ni idea de mi poder», pensó furiosa. «Si quiero resolver esta situación, tendré que encargarme yo misma de ello».
Lo que había comenzado como una broma inofensiva para tirarle bajo el autobús se había convertido en una auténtica catástrofe. Por supuesto, no iba a permitir que la situación llegara más lejos sin tomar medidas decisivas. El tipo de medidas que Lionel y Stanley no tenían ni idea de cómo llevar a cabo con éxito, supuso.
Tenía trabajo por delante. Y no se trataba de dar un paseo por el camino de las rosas de los aficionados.
Respiró lenta y profundamente. Al terminar, se le ocurrieron tres puntos clave.
Calmar los ánimos de Preston Milworth, frenándole en seco si era necesario. Rebajar las exigencias de la comunidad de propietarios. Minimizar la creciente influencia en el barrio de su marido y su compinche, de la que se había enterado recientemente.
Todo ello debía lograrse en unos pocos días, antes de la reunión de la junta de la comunidad de propietarios, sin arruinar su propia reputación. Poner en evidencia a su marido era una cosa, pero que eso le costara miles de dólares de su propio bolsillo era otra muy distinta.
Tags: #freewrite#hispapro#fiction#neoxian#indiaunited#bdvoter#helios#pob#aliento#freewritehouse