Write first person narratives by two people in conflict. Try to make them sympathetic.

1
He's done it again, and he's gone too far this time. A ruddy great tree at the front corner of the garden. Must've brought it in on the back of a truck, the size of the thing. Thing casts a shadow right into our sitting room. Used to be able to see over the streets into the hills from our bedroom window, but now you can't see anything beyond that eight-foot conifer. I don't know what his problem is, I really don't. He doesn't talk to people, not even when you pass him on the street. If we're not in to sign for a package and it gets left next door, he waits until we get back then dumps it on our doorstep. Don't know how his wife puts up with him. Still, she might be as bad as he is. Haven't seen her much the past few years. Never seems to leave the house without him. Secretive sorts, never know what's going on there. She's a mousy little thing, anyway. He probably has as little respect for her as he does the rest of us.

Anyway, I decided I wasn't going to stand for it this time. I put up with the fence and the wall at the back at the time because it wasn't that much bother, even if he didn't consult us. I went round there, told him he had no respect and he has the cheek to get angry with me, tells me to quiet down cos his wife is sleeping - a likely story in the middle of the day. I said I'd be contacting the council and left it at that. There's no point wasting your time and energy on these people.

2
Sarah's not doing well, lately. She needs rest but she insists on getting up. I don't blame her, and I don't have the heart to tell her to play the dutiful invalid. Still, she's very sensitive to the light which made it hard for her to be in the sitting room in the mornings. She likes the back bedroom - she watches the birds while she reads or sews - but the TV's downstairs and she won't let me move it for her. Might be able to afford a small one for her to use if my bonus comes through. Things are a bit tight with the bills for the specialist. In the meantime, I thought maybe there was a way to cut out some of the glare in the front room. We can't afford blinds, of course, but I've got a friend who runs a garden centre, and he was able to get me a tree to put out the front. He knows about Sarah and did it as a favour. We've put it in just the right place so it blocks the sun when it's shining through the gaps in the houses opposite.

Just as I was feeling pleased with myself - like I was actually able to do something for the first time in ages, a new problem arose. The guy from next door called by to complain. Half an hour after I'd managed to convince Sarah to get some rest. I opened the door and the yelling started immediately. I had to ask him to keep his voice down. I was surprised at him - I'm sure the whole street has been gossiping about Sarah's condition and for him to come screaming at my door, well, I'm ashamed to say I got angry myself. After a few obscene remarks he told me he'd be taking it up with the council and in my frustration I wished him good luck with that.