My neighbor vandalized my vehicle by throwing eggs at it, claiming it obstructed the view of his Halloween decorations.

Last Halloween, I stepped outside to discover my car completely covered in eggs. Initially, I assumed it was a prank; however, I soon realized that the egg remnants extended to my neighbor Brad’s sidewalk. Feeling suspicious, I decided to confront him.

His explanation was astonishing: “Your car is blocking the view of my Halloween decorations.” I was taken aback. “You vandalized my car because it was parked in front of your house? Instead of asking me to move it, you chose to damage it?”

Brad merely shrugged, dismissing the situation. “How can anyone appreciate my display if they can’t see it from the street? You park there every day. It’s ruining the atmosphere.”

I felt my anger rising. “Brad, I am a single mother with newborn twins. I park nearby because I need to transport babies, a stroller, and bags several times a day.”

Unfazed, he responded, “Not my concern. Find another place to park.”

I chose not to engage further. Maintaining my composure, I feigned understanding to avoid raising his suspicions about my plans for a Halloween-themed retaliation.

With Halloween approaching, Brad remained oblivious to what awaited him. While I could have argued, involved the authorities, or even retaliated by egging his house, I sought a more inventive approach—one that would make Brad regret his actions against my car. Thus, I dedicated the following days to devising my ultimate Halloween revenge, targeting his beloved decorations.

Brad’s Halloween displays were renowned in our neighborhood. Each year, he went to great lengths—life-sized skeletons, animatronic zombies, fog machines, and more. Residents from surrounding areas would drive by just to admire his eerie showcase. He took immense pride in it, and I realized that disrupting his display would serve as the perfect retribution. However, I needed to be discreet; I did not wish to lower myself to his level by damaging his property. My goal was to evoke the same frustration and annoyance he had inflicted upon me, all while remaining within the bounds of the law.

I began by enlisting a few friends to assist me. We created a group chat, and I requested their help in executing a “strategic distraction” during Brad’s significant Halloween celebration. The strategy was straightforward yet effective — we would position our vehicles in key locations along the street, close enough to Brad’s residence to obscure the view of his decorations from various angles, but not so near as to impede traffic or breach any regulations.

Subsequently, I arranged my own Halloween display. Typically, I would only set out a few jack-o’-lanterns, but this year I decided to go all out. I purchased inflatable ghosts, hung skeletons, and even rented a massive, 10-foot inflatable pumpkin that illuminated and emitted eerie sound effects. I arranged everything meticulously to ensure it completely captured the attention of passersby. While Brad’s display was impressive, mine was now equally striking — and it was fully visible, whereas his was partially concealed by our “strategically parked” vehicles.

As Halloween night approached, my friends arrived early to assist with the setup. We ensured that we parked in all the optimal locations, adhering to our plan. Naturally, I parked my car precisely where it had been on the day Brad had egged it, ensuring it once again obstructed his display from the prime viewing angle. I even took the precaution of cleaning the egg stains, just in case Brad thought he could repeat his earlier antics.

At approximately 6 PM, the trick-or-treaters began to appear in the neighborhood. Children dashed up and down the street clad in their festive costumes, while parents leisurely drove by, taking in the holiday decorations. Brad had once again created an impressive display, featuring new animatronics this year, such as a witch elegantly stirring a bubbling cauldron, complemented by speakers emitting spooky Halloween sounds. However, as soon as the vehicles arrived, their view was partially obscured by our parked cars. Though it did not entirely diminish his display, it was sufficient to prevent onlookers from fully appreciating it, forcing them to twist their necks or exit their cars for a better view. In contrast, my large inflatable pumpkin and my elaborately decorated front yard were perfectly visible.

It was not long before Brad became aware of the situation. I was outside distributing candy to the trick-or-treaters when I noticed him pacing in his driveway, glaring at the parked vehicles. His expression reddened noticeably as he scanned the area, and upon spotting me, he marched over in a fit of frustration.

“What is going on here?” he exclaimed, gesturing dramatically at the cars. “You’ve deliberately parked here to obstruct my decorations!”

I responded with a cheerful, innocent smile. “Oh, Brad! They’re not blocking your decorations. Everyone can still see them—they just have to come a bit closer. Moreover, this is a public street, and we are permitted to park here.”

Brad’s expression hardened. “You think this is amusing, don’t you? You’re doing this just to get back at me.”

I merely shrugged, maintaining my smile. “It’s interesting how it feels when someone disrupts your hard work, isn’t it? But don’t worry, Brad. I’m certain people will still notice your display; you just need to take it easy. After all, it’s Halloween!”

I smiled inwardly as I carefully stored the note. Following that incident, Brad never vandalized my car again, and our interaction remained courteous, albeit somewhat detached. On occasion, he would greet me with a wave, to which I would respond in kind, but it was clear that he had absorbed the lesson. Every subsequent Halloween, I have arranged my display and positioned my car precisely where it should be, serving as a subtle reminder of that episode.

At times, karma does not require overt actions or hostility; it merely needs to be clever and somewhat calculated.