Exhausted and running on empty, Genevieve’s life had become a blur of survival since the birth of her twins, Lily and Lucas. Every day seemed like a marathon, and the thought of participating in the neighborhood’s Halloween excitement felt utterly impossible. While everyone around her was buzzing with anticipation for the holiday, Genevieve could barely keep her eyes open, let alone worry about costumes, decorations, or spooky festivities.
Then there was Brad, her obnoxious next-door neighbor. He was the self-proclaimed “King of Halloween,” and every year, his elaborate haunted house display became a neighborhood sensation. His front yard was transformed into a grotesque attraction, complete with gravestones, skeletons, and enough cobwebs to make a spider proud. Neighbors fawned over his efforts, and Brad ate up every compliment, his smug grin growing with each passing praise. For Genevieve, none of this mattered. She had enough to handle without getting involved in Brad’s over-the-top Halloween circus.
One morning, as Genevieve shuffled outside with her twins, barely able to stay awake, she was hit with an unpleasant surprise—her car was completely covered in eggs. Yolk dripped down the windshield, and shell fragments scattered across the hood. It was clear that someone had targeted her. Her car had been parked in front of Brad’s house the night before, and now it seemed she was paying the price for it.
Fueled by a mix of anger and exhaustion, Genevieve marched over to Brad’s house to confront him. When he answered the door, his smug grin was already in place, framed by his absurd Halloween decorations.
“Did you see who egged my car?” she demanded, her voice tight with fury.
Brad didn’t even blink. “I did,” he said nonchalantly. “Your car was blocking the view of my decorations.”
Genevieve’s jaw dropped. “You egged my car because it was in front of your house? You didn’t even ask me to move it!”
Brad shrugged, utterly unfazed. “People come from all over to see my display. How are they supposed to see it if your car is blocking the view?”
Genevieve’s frustration bubbled over. “I’ve got newborn twins, Brad. I parked there because it’s easier for me when I’m carrying two babies!”
“That’s not my problem,” he replied with a dismissive wave. “After Halloween, you can park there again.”
Genevieve stood in stunned silence, her exhaustion dulling her anger. She had no energy to argue. Instead, she turned and walked away, already planning her revenge. If Brad wanted to play dirty, she was ready to play smarter.
That night, as she rocked Lily to sleep in the nursery, an idea began to take shape. Brad’s weakness? His pride. His Halloween display was everything to him, and if she could make it fall apart, it would be the perfect payback.
The next day, Genevieve went over to Brad’s house as he was putting the finishing touches on his display. “Hey, Brad!” she called out, forcing a cheerful tone. “Your setup looks amazing, but have you thought about adding some high-tech stuff? Like fog machines or ghost projectors? It’d really take it to the next level.”
Brad paused, eyeing her with suspicion. “Upgrade?” he asked, intrigued.
Genevieve rattled off a list of cheap fog machines and ghost projectors she had researched, all known for their terrible performance but unsuspecting to Brad. “If you want to be the best on the block, these could really make your display pop,” she said sweetly.
Brad’s eyes lit up. “You think so? I’ll check it out.”
Genevieve smiled to herself as she walked away, knowing exactly what was about to unfold.
Halloween night arrived, and Brad’s house looked spectacular—at least at first. He had gone all out, installing fog machines and ghost projectors, creating an atmosphere that wowed the neighborhood. He basked in the admiration, standing proudly as parents and kids marveled at his work.
Genevieve watched from her porch, holding her twins, feeling like the villain in a low-budget drama. She had to admit, Brad’s display was impressive—for a moment.
Just as she had predicted, things began to fall apart.
The fog machine sputtered and then malfunctioned, spraying water all over Brad’s lawn like a broken sprinkler. Kids laughed, and the adults tried to stifle their amusement as Brad scrambled to fix the issue.
Next, the ghost projector flickered, turning its eerie image into a cartoonish blob that wavered across the wall. The kids howled with laughter, and Brad’s frustration was evident as he tried to make it work.
But the final blow came when the giant inflatable Frankenstein collapsed in slow motion, its massive head rolling across the yard like a beach ball. Teenagers, sensing an opportunity for chaos, began pelting eggs at the house, turning Brad’s Halloween masterpiece into a hilarious disaster.
The next morning, there was a knock at Genevieve’s door. She opened it to find Brad, looking deflated and embarrassed, his usual arrogance completely absent.
“I, uh, wanted to apologize,” he mumbled, avoiding her gaze. “For egging your car. I overreacted.”
Genevieve crossed her arms, letting the silence linger before responding. “Yeah, you did.”
Brad shuffled his feet, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just… I didn’t realize how hard it must be with the twins and all. I’m sorry.”
Genevieve let him stew in the awkward silence for a moment before nodding. “Thanks for apologizing, Brad. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
Brad nodded eagerly. “No, it won’t.”
As he turned to leave, Genevieve couldn’t resist adding, “Funny how things have a way of balancing out, huh?”
Brad glanced back at her, but for once, he had nothing to say.