Dateline: 100 block of Franklin St., Trenton, N.J.  on May 17, 2024. It’s Friday when I exited my residence at approximately 6:30 a.m. ahead of a one-hour golf practice. For the second consecutive trash collection day, my new neighbors had left food out in front of their house — in this case, two boxes with several slices of pizza inside. Birds pecked at one plain slice while a squirrel dragged another slice atop the sidewalk. The scene mirrored a famous Internet video that shows a rat playing tug of war with a pizza slice as it maneuvers the cheese item down New York City subway steps. Other trash items lay strewn near our shared stoop. A metal snow shovel and 21-prong rake stays on the porch for these pickups. Plus, a large green garbage bag is tucked away near a planter. Numerous residents on our street deliver wonderful efforts to maintain our portion of Franklin St. Others could not care less about this important issue. In this morning moment, anger mixed with disappointment. Mind you, it’s just me, a squirrel, a couple of birds, and my higher power who hears this exclamation — “F-word pigs.” It’s not screamed or shouted, just stated. Apparently, the new neighbor lurked near an open window. Her front door swung open and she rushed out to challenge my observation. “Who you calling a (F-word) pig,” she screamed. We exchanged ideas about the situation with the pizza, a couple of chicken bones and other trash as exhibits A, B and C. Informed that we don’t live like this on Franklin St., the shovel and rake were replaced in their ready position on the porch as the neighbor grabbed a broom and began cleaning. I went back into the house then heard the sound of breaking glass. A trip back downstairs found shattered glass on the porch floor. She had broken a window that divides our two residences and disappeared. A phone call eventually delivered two police officers who listened to my complaint. A (supervisor?) arrived later. She admitted to breaking the window but not purposefully. I insisted she repair her damage ASAP. When the supervisor advised my persistence did “not help the matter”, I went back inside the house. Knowing how situations can escalate occasionally between Black men and police, retreat almost always represents a best practice. A call to my landlord explained the situation. Told him I would pick up the police report by the following Monday. Reading the document brought realization that my new neighbor dabbled as a successful fiction writer. Her private conversation with police produced this version. She had been sweeping when Mr. Parker came outside and said — wait for it — “You are disgusting for picking up the trash.” Obviously, neither the new neighbor nor the police officer, were aware of the hundreds of articles posted here regarding how Trenton needs to clean up. Every resident on our block had witnessed a Black man armed with a rake, snow shovel, and green garbage bag, cleaning curbs and street sewer drains.They had watched in wonder this guy attempt to kill every weed that squeezed through cracks in sidewalks. An older sister suggested police should write a report that represented my side of this event. No need. Actions and reputations speak louder than accusations. Epilogue: The window, which the woman said broke while she swept her porch and the broom handle accidentally shattered the glass, was repaired in July. She keeps her sidewalk clean and trash under control. We don’t speak. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].