The transformation was instantaneous. The jovial atmosphere turned to one of confusion and fear. The neighbors froze, their expressions shifting from joy to terror as they caught sight of our ghastly procession. We moved deliberately, our voices a chilling harmony that echoed through the yard. “This is sacred ground,” we intoned, “and it is not yours to claim.”

Panic ensued. Drinks were spilled, snacks forgotten, as our neighbors scrambled out of the jacuzzi, their bravado replaced with frantic haste. They stumbled over one another in their rush to escape, their retreat as chaotic as their unauthorized visits had been relaxed.