The only time the neighbor needs to borrow the ladder is when you've just put it away in the back of the shed

You spend an hour reorganizing the shed, wrestle the extension ladder past the bikes and the broken weed whacker, and finally wedge it into that perfect spot behind the Christmas bins.

Then you pour yourself some tea, sit down, and hear the doorbell.

Punchline

It's your neighbor, asking if they can borrow the ladder — just for a minute.