Every year, I go all out for Halloween, creating a spooky spectacle with decorations that the neighborhood kids love. But my neighbors, Gary and Brenda, have always been nuisances. From complaining about my Christmas lights to demanding I move my garden, nothing I did was ever good enough for them.

This year, I put up an elaborate haunted maze and a giant inflatable witch. But when I didn’t clean up right after Halloween, Gary and Brenda decided to dump their rotting pumpkins, broken skeletons, and dead cornstalks onto my lawn with a note: “Enjoy cleaning it up, since you love decorating so much!”

Fuming, I decided to return the favor. I gathered all their moldy decorations, snuck over to their house, and arranged the mess across their lawn, complete with twisted skeletons and a swamp of cornstalks. I left a note: “Thought I’d help with your cleanup. Happy belated Halloween!”

A few days later, Brenda called, frantic. “We’re being fined thousands of dollars! You ruined everything!” Apparently, the HOA had been threatening them with eviction due to long-standing property neglect and pest issues, and the Halloween mess was the final straw. I laughed, pointing out the security footage showing them dumping the decorations first.

In the end, the HOA dismissed their complaints, and Gary and Brenda were forced to sell their house. I felt a small twinge of guilt, but mostly, I felt satisfaction. Next Halloween, I’m going bigger.