Exhaustion had become my constant companion since the arrival of my twins, Lily and Lucas. Halloween was just around the corner, but I was too drained to care about the festivities. That was until my smug neighbor, Brad, decided to take matters into his own hands.
Brad was notorious for his over-the-top Halloween displays, and this year was no exception. His house was transformed into a haunted carnival, complete with gravestones, skeletons, and giant jack-o’-lanterns. But when I parked my car in front of his house, he saw it as an affront to his grand design.
The next morning, I woke up to find my car covered in eggs. At first, I thought it was a prank, but Brad’s smug admission revealed a shocking truth. He had egged my car because it was “ruining the view” of his display.
Fury bubbled up inside me, but exhaustion took over, and I retreated to my house, determined to teach Brad a lesson. I bided my time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
That moment arrived when Brad began boasting about his display. I casually suggested he upgrade his setup with high-tech gadgets, knowing full well that the machines I recommended were notorious for malfunctioning.
Halloween night arrived, and Brad’s house was abuzz with activity. But as the crowd gathered, his display began to unravel. The fog machine sprayed water like a garden hose, the ghost projector flickered, and his inflatables collapsed.
The once-impressed crowd erupted into laughter, and Brad’s dignity deflated along with his Frankenstein inflatable. The final blow came when teenagers egged his house, sealing his humiliation.
The next morning, a humbled Brad appeared at my doorstep, apologizing for his actions. For once, his arrogance was replaced by contrition.
As he turned to leave, I couldn’t resist a parting shot: “Funny how things have a way of balancing out, huh?” Brad’s silence was all the satisfaction I needed.
In that moment, I realized that sometimes, revenge can be sweet – especially when served with a side of humility.
