After years of putting up with my neighbors’ antics, their latest stunt was the last straw. Halloween had always been my favorite holiday—I loved going all out with decorations, creating a spooky, fun setup for the neighborhood. But, apparently, my neighbors, Gary and Brenda, didn’t appreciate my enthusiasm. Every year, they’d find something to complain about, whether it was my holiday lights being “too bright” or my decorations being “too much.”

This year, things escalated. One morning, I stepped outside to find my lawn littered with rotting pumpkins, dead cornstalks, and broken skeleton parts. The stench was unbearable, and flies buzzed around the mess. There was even a note, signed in Brenda’s familiar handwriting: “Since you love decorating so much, figured you’d want the rest of the neighborhood’s decorations too.”

My anger simmered as I looked at the mess. After knocking on their door to confront them and getting nothing but smirks and mocking comments, I decided to give them a taste of their own medicine. Late one evening, I gathered all the rotting decor from my lawn and returned it to theirs, arranging it as a makeshift haunted display—pumpkins, skeletons, and all.

A few days later, I got a panicked call from Brenda. Apparently, the trash had attracted rats, and the damage to their home was so severe that the HOA was stepping in. They’d been warned before, but this was the last straw, and now they were facing hefty fines.

When Brenda tried to blame me, I reminded her of the security footage that clearly showed them dumping the mess on my property. Despite her pleas, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction as the HOA held them accountable. They eventually had to sell their home and move.

As I watched them leave, I felt a tinge of guilt. But then, I remembered the years of their complaints and disrespect. Next Halloween, I think I’ll make my display even bigger, just for the fun of it.