There is a neighborhood watch group that also arranges and sponsors social functions, pot luck dinners, glee clubs, and a host of other activities. The primary purpose though is said to be for the fulfilment of a better life for those who become members, there are financial, health and safety classes available for all the people in neighborhood who are dues paying members.
This group was actually named after your very own Grandfather who was the founder, he was a very good parent, grandparent and a friend to just about anyone who came across his path. He founded the Association because he believed it would enhance the lives of the people he held dear, bringing many from the neighborhood together once a week for current events and trends within the neighborhood and fostering a family type atmosphere for all who actively participated. He would let new folks who moved into the neighborhood know what the group was all about and invite them to join. He was a very genuine and likable man and most who came in contact with him wanted to be a part of his organization.
It had been 20 or so years since your Grandfather passed away but the group still kept his name prominent and even used it in membership drives and special fund raising events and in all meetings. His generous nature was always brought up and his self sacrifice in founding and keeping the Association viable was mentioned at every gathering.
Over the years as the Association grew larger and the projects and goals became more and more ambitious they would invoke your Grandfather's name and say how either happy he would be with one result or another or speak for him saying what displeasure he took in the lack of funding some of the members provided for what the new leaders presented as being of extreme importance. When this did not get the desired results they would say that your Grandfather would have been insanely angry, and although he was normally a good natured man you did not want to get on his bad side as he used to severely punish members who were not pulling their weight. As a matter of fact he was known to burn down the houses (with the people inside) if certain commitments were not made. Besides burning people alive they also claimed he had tied up people in his basement who were in his disfavor, torturing and beating them to within an inch of their life before he would stop to give them enough food, drink and rest to sustain them for another day and another round of beatings.
You could feel the tears welling up in your eyes as this was being spoken but there was more.....
Once you got on his bad side there was no getting back into the good graces of your Grandfather they claimed, sure he was kind, loving, compassionate and a great neighbor but there was no one in the history of the world who could dish it out, hold a grudge and get revenge quite like him.
What? Who is he talking about? You sat through this and could not believe your ears, you knew your Grandfather your entire life until the day he died, the reason you had moved back to this neighborhood was because of all the pleasant memories of him and the neighborhood, the Neighborhood Association he founded was like an extended family. Yes, the building and the choir, the gym and all the social services now available were not there when you were growing up but the camaraderie that we had shared back then was so very evident.
Hearing these things about your Grandfather had shocked you into silence for a few minutes, you knew it was not true, you knew this man your whole life!
After the meeting ended you approached the speaker and told him how upset and angry you were about the things he said, he replied that "they were doing much more good than your Grandfather had ever done, look at this building, look at all the members and the activities they enjoy, the neighborhood has more than it ever had."
As far as that went he was right but you were still extremely upset at how he was portraying the kindest, most gentle man you had ever known as some vengeful, unforgiving ogre, when you confronted him with that truthful observation he said; "You know most of the people who belong here never really knew him, they take my word for it and no one really seems to mind, they contribute the money it takes to keep this the best Neighborhood Association ever and volunteer for all the special events we schedule. Look, your Grandfather is an icon here!"
"I see you have 3 teenagers, why don't you bring them tonight for the Youth Pool Bash, there are plenty of great young people who belong to our Association that would love to meet them, we are even having a pot luck dinner and some activities for us older folks! C'mon lighten up, can't you see this is really working fantastic?"
Would you go back?