Genevieve’s life had turned into a never-ending race against time and energy ever since the twins, Lily and Lucas, were born. It was a struggle just to get through each day. Between feeding, changing, and calming two newborns, it felt like she barely had a moment to breathe. Sleep was something she remembered fondly but hadn’t experienced in weeks.
As Halloween approached, the neighborhood was buzzing with excitement. Decorations went up everywhere, and families were planning their trick-or-treat routes. But Genevieve could barely muster the strength to even care. She was too drained, too worn out from the demands of motherhood to think about costumes, candy, or pumpkin carving. The last thing she wanted to deal with was Halloween.
Then there was Brad—her next-door neighbor.
Brad was one of those people who thought the world revolved around him. He was stubborn, self-centered, and never hesitated to make his opinions known, especially when it came to something he felt entitled to. One day, Genevieve returned home after running errands with the twins, only to find her car parked in what Brad considered “his” spot on the street.
“You can’t park there,” Brad said sharply, pointing at the spot like it was reserved just for him.
Genevieve let out a tired sigh. “Look, Brad, I have twins. Parking here makes it easier for me to carry them inside. I don’t have the luxury of walking miles to find a spot.”
Brad barely seemed to hear her. “Not my concern, Genevieve. You can use it again once Halloween’s over.”
Genevieve’s mind was racing with a million responses, but she was too exhausted to argue. Instead, she simply stared at him, too tired to fight. Without saying another word, she walked away, her patience wearing thin with each step.
Later, as Genevieve scrubbed dried egg off her car—an unfortunate result of Brad’s childish revenge—her frustration grew. She couldn’t let this go. If Brad was going to act petty, she was going to turn the tables. But she wasn’t about to engage in a messy confrontation. No, she could outsmart him, play it cool, and make sure he got exactly what he deserved.
That night, as she rocked Lily to sleep in the nursery, a plan began to take shape in Genevieve’s mind. She’d noticed how much Brad prided himself on his Halloween decorations. The bigger, flashier, and more ridiculous, the better. It was his thing, his moment to shine in the neighborhood. If she could make him the center of attention for all the wrong reasons, it would be perfect.
The next day, Genevieve walked into Brad’s yard just as he was making final tweaks to his elaborate Halloween setup. She put on her brightest smile and walked over to him.
“Hey, Brad!” she called out, her tone cheery. “Your setup looks amazing! Have you ever thought about adding some high-tech gadgets like fog machines or ghost projectors? It could really take your display to the next level!”
Brad’s eyes lit up, his chest puffing out with pride. “Really? You think so?” He was clearly thrilled by the idea.
Genevieve nodded enthusiastically, barely containing her smirk. “Absolutely! You should totally go for it. It would be incredible!”
That was all it took. Brad was all in, and Genevieve knew it. He immediately set out to add more gadgets, more effects. By Halloween night, his yard had become a full-on haunted house: strobe lights flashed, fog machines churned, eerie sounds echoed through the air, and holographic ghosts floated through the yard.
But something Brad didn’t anticipate happened. The combination of all the high-powered gadgets he’d added was too much for his electrical system to handle. The whole setup short-circuited.
By the time the first trick-or-treaters arrived, Brad’s over-the-top Halloween display had turned into a chaotic mess—flickering lights, the fog machine spewing out too much mist, and the ghosts barely flickering as if they had a mind of their own. The whole thing was a disaster.
Genevieve watched it all unfold from her window, a small, satisfied smile creeping across her face. She hadn’t needed to shout or make a scene. All she had done was give Brad just enough of a nudge in the right direction, and he’d ruined his own Halloween.
The next morning, there was a knock on Genevieve’s door. When she opened it, she found Brad standing there, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. The usual arrogance he wore like a badge was gone.
“I, uh… I came to apologize,” Brad mumbled, clearly not used to this. “For the eggs. I was out of line.”
Genevieve folded her arms and stared at him for a moment, letting the silence hang in the air, making him squirm. “Yeah, you were,” she finally said.
Brad rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “I didn’t realize how tough things must be for you with the twins. I’m sorry, Genevieve.”
She let the silence stretch for a few more seconds before speaking again. “Apology accepted, Brad. But I trust it won’t happen again, right?”
Brad nodded quickly, eager to put this awkward encounter behind him. “No, it won’t. I swear.”
As Brad turned to leave, Genevieve couldn’t resist one last comment. “It’s funny, isn’t it? How things tend to even out in the end.”
Brad glanced back at her, but for once, he didn’t have a retort. Instead, he just kept walking, his head down.
Genevieve stood in her doorway, watching him go. It wasn’t the grand showdown she’d imagined, but it was enough. Sometimes, the best revenge didn’t come from a fight—it came from letting someone trip over their own ego.
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