I received a notice from the Homeowners Association (HOA) that one of our tenants (we will call her Mary), violated the House Rules and has been assessed a $200 fine. 

That’s a stiff penalty so Mary must have done something really bad. Reading through it, I see the violation is for “indecent exposure” while in the swimming pool area. 

I called the office and was told that Mary had been wearing a very revealing swimsuit, and it had not been the first time. Since many women wear close to nothing these days, how revealing could it be?

Once Mary was told that she is going to be responsible for a $200 fine, she came straight to my office with the swimsuit in hand and asked to speak with me.

She was very upset about the whole thing. She tossed the swimsuit on my desk and asked me to tell her what was wrong with it. As I surveyed the swimsuit, she strutted around the room saying, “Look at my body.  I work hard on this body and it looks good. I should be able to wear whatever I want to the pool.”   

I always try to understand both sides of a situation, but Mary is right. There is nothing wrong with the suit she is showing me. Nothing at all. Yes, it’s a bit skimpy, but so what? I see people wearing less at the beach.  

I decide to go speak with the building management in person. When I arrive at the office, I am escorted in to meet with the Manager and his Assistant. I plead my case and ask that the fine be reversed. I can see the two of them are very uncomfortable, glancing at each other from time to time without saying a word.

The Manager finally says, “I’m sorry, but the fine will not be reversed.”  I’m shocked.  It’s almost like he didn’t hear a word I said. “This is ridiculous,” I say as I stand to leave.  As the Assistant escorts me out of the office, she whispers to me, “Tell your tenant to get another swimsuit that covers her testicles.”