My name is Gregory Watson, I’m a little over 50.
I have lived in this neighbourhood for over two decades.
Since I lost my wife Margaret to cancer eight years ago, it’s been just my grandson Harry and me here.
He is studying on a scholarship in another city, and although he comes for holidays, I spend most of my time alone, enjoying the quiet I have earned over the years.
This peaceful existence underwent a dramatic change when Jack and his son Drew moved next door.
Jack, with his important look, immediately began to annoy me.
It didn’t take long before he started parking in my reserved spot, which for me, with my chronic leg pain, was especially important.
Despite my polite requests to move my car, Jack’s behaviour was dismissive and the situation escalated.
One morning I woke up to find my car completely wrapped in duct tape.
My frustration was evident as I stood there seething with anger.
It was clear that Jack and Drew were behind this little act of vandalism, trying to get me to give up parking.
Determined not to give in, I took pictures of the car as proof and spent several hours struggling to remove the duct tape.
I later enlisted the help of Noah and Chris, two local kids who had become like family to me after losing their parents.
Kelly, their grandmother, was more than happy to support our revenge plan.
‘We’re going to give Jack a lesson he won’t forget,’ I said, smiling at Noah.
I got biodegradable glitter, plastic flamingos and breezes and imagined how Jack would react.
That night, Noah, Chris, and I got to work.
We covered Jack’s garden in sparkling glitter, placed an army of pink flamingos and hung loud breezes around his house.
The view of Jack’s front yard, which had been transformed into a glittering spectacle accompanied by the constant ringing of the breezes, was a veritable poetic retribution.
The next morning I held back laughter as I watched Jack walk out to face the chaos.
His confusion and frustration was evident as he surveyed his garden.
I stepped out, made an innocent face and inserted an apt comment about his ‘mess’.
Before Jack could respond, the arrival of two police officers – thanks to my strategic call – added more trouble to his situation.
They were there to deal with complaints about Jack’s parking violations and vandalism to his car, and Jack was whisked away with an expression of bewilderment.
Now that Jack and Drew were gone, I finally got my parking back.
Later that day Noah, Chris and Kelly came over to celebrate.
Kelly gave me a big hug and expressed her relief and support.
‘Noah and Chris, you’re the best,’ I said, smiling at my young friends who cheered me on.
As the evening wore on, the problems of the neighbourhood seemed a distant memory.
Peace had returned, and friendships with neighbours were stronger than ever.
A few weeks later, Harry came home for the holidays.
Our home, now full of warmth and laughter, was the perfect backdrop to tell the story.
As we gathered around the fireplace, I told the story of our neighbourhood saga.
Harry’s eyes widened as he listened to the details and laughed heartily.
‘I wish I had seen it,’ he said, still chuckling.
‘You would have loved it,’ Chris said, leaning back.
‘It was like a film,’ Noah added, recounting the latest news.
‘I heard they had to pay a big fine and they left the neighbourhood for good.’
Kelly added: ‘We can all live in peace now, or, Greg?’
I nodded as the warmth of family and friends surrounded me.
As we shared other stories and made plans for the future, the house was full of joy and love.
It wasn’t just about getting my car park back or getting revenge; it was about the strength of our bonds and the memories we’d made together.
And that was what mattered most.
