I was so tired—the kind of tiredness that makes one wonder whether they have remembered to feed the dog or cleaned their teeth.

My days had melted into an endless cycle of diaper changes, feeding schedules, and sleepless nights since the twins were born. I needed nothing except another issue to handle last-minute. But when I emerged outside that morning, my car was utterly coated in eggs.

I first assumed it was just a haphazard practical joke. Who wouldn’t? Halloween was almost here, and perhaps some children had become perhaps too enthusiastic. Too worn enough to even be offended, I groaned and reached for a sponge and bucket to tidy things.

“That was me,” he said, almost proudly. “Your car was ruining the view of my Halloween decorations.”

I blinked at him, trying to process his words through the fog of exhaustion. My car? Ruining his view? His ridiculous display of plastic skeletons, fake cobwebs, and oversized pumpkins?

Furious, but too tired to even start an argument, I just nodded, biting back the urge to say something I might regret. I didn’t have the energy for a confrontation, but in that moment, I silently promised myself that I’d find a way to teach Brad a lesson.

He had no idea who he was messing with.

Halloween Woes and A Bully Neighbor
Being a new parent to twins was already incredibly challenging. Sleepless nights and constant care left me feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Halloween was fast approaching, and while the whole neighborhood was excited about decorating, I simply didn’t have the energy for it.

Then there was Brad, my next-door neighbor, who took Halloween to the extreme. His house was transformed into a haunted attraction, complete with gravestones, skeletons, and giant jack-o’-lanterns. Everyone in the block loved it, but I barely had the energy to spare for that.

One fateful October morning, my life took a turn for the worse. As I stepped outside with my twins, I was greeted with the sight of my car covered in eggs. The eggshells clung to the mess, dripping down the windshield. It was a shocking moment.

My first thought was that it was just a prank. But then, I noticed some egg splatters near Brad’s porch, and it became clear that he was the culprit behind this mess. How could he do this?

Fueled by anger, I confronted Brad at his doorstep, determined to make him realize the consequences of his actions. He boldly admitted to egging my car, claiming that it was blocking the view of his decorations. It was an absurd reason, considering the extent of his Halloween display.

I was furious, but my exhaustion prevented me from engaging in a heated argument. It was clear that Brad didn’t care about the challenges I faced as a parent. His selfishness and disregard for others pushed me to take matters into my own hands.

Revenge and Redemption
While rocking my daughter to sleep that night, a mischievous idea struck me. Brad’s pride was his weakness, and I knew how to exploit it. Instead of confronting him head-on, I decided to play a little mind game.

The next day, I approached Brad with a cheerful demeanor, acknowledging my mistake of blocking his display. I slyly suggested that he should upgrade his setup with fog machines and ghost projectors, subtly recommending brands that I knew had terrible reviews.

Brad took the bait, excited to elevate his decorations. Little did he know that his eagerness would lead him towards a disastrous Halloween night.

As Halloween arrived, Brad’s house became the talk of the town, attracting crowds to witness his extravagant display. Yet, it didn’t take long for the illusion to shatter. The fog machine malfunctioned, spraying water instead of mist. The ghost projector displayed a bizarre blob, much to the amusement of the children. To make matters worse, one of his giant inflatables collapsed, and bored teenagers bombarded his house with eggs.

Frantically trying to salvage his haunted house, Brad was left defeated by the end of the night. The very next day, he showed up at my door, humbled and apologetic for his actions. He finally acknowledged the challenges I faced with the twins and expressed remorse for his behavior.

Accepting his apology, I reminded him of the ironic twist that had occurred. Brad, who considered himself the Halloween King, had seen his display turn into a joke.