Friends Gary and Brenda had been a pain in my side for years. Their constant complaining and acting like they were privileged had become the norm. When they put their rotting Halloween food on my lawn, though, I knew I had to do something.
I’ve always loved Halloween. Every year, I decorate my yard in a way that makes both kids and adults happy. Gary and Brenda, on the other hand, were not fans. They always found something wrong with everything I did, even my yard and Christmas lights.
That being said, their most recent move was too much. My yard smelled like rotten pumpkins and dead cornstalks, and there was a snide note that made me feel like I should clean up their mess. It made my blood boil.
When I talked to Gary, he gave me a smug grin and a shrug. It was “community service,” he said. I held my tongue, but I had a plan in my head.
I carefully placed the smelly trinkets on Gary and Brenda’s lawn at night, when no one was around. When they got home, the look on their faces must have been priceless.
But they really got back at them when the HOA fined them thousands of dollars for not taking care of their property, breaking health rules, and having pest problems. Thanks to my security cameras, their efforts to put the blame on me failed.
Gary and Brenda quickly lost everything. After several warnings were ignored and neighbours complained about bugs and bad smells, the HOA had enough. They couldn’t pay the fines, so they had to sell their house.
I felt bad about what I did as I watched them drive off, tired and beaten. But when I thought about their smug looks and cocky behaviour, I knew that justice had been done.
I’ll be even bigger next Halloween, a scary symbol of happiness in a neighbourhood that no longer has Gary and Brenda around.
This taught me that sticking up for yourself needs creativity and the will to fight fire with fire sometimes. As for Halloween, I’m ready for anything that comes my way.
