For more than ten years, I enjoyed a peaceful life in a friendly neighborhood—happy kids playing outside, neighbors who waved with a smile, and perfectly trimmed lawns lining the street. That sense of calm ended the day Tim moved in next door.
At first, Tim seemed pleasant enough. He told me he wanted a quiet life away from the bustle of the city, and I thought we’d get along well. When he asked to borrow my driveway while his was being repaved, I politely explained that with two cars and my kids constantly coming and going, it just wasn’t practical. He didn’t take it well, storming off in a huff, but I felt I had been fair.
The following morning, I found Tim’s truck blocking my driveway, making me late for work. When I confronted him, he appeared in his pajamas and brushed it off, saying it would only be “a few hours.” He moved it eventually, but that was only the beginning of the trouble.
Over the next week, Tim made a habit of using my driveway—parking his truck there, letting his friends’ cars spill over, and even leaving lawn equipment behind. My frustration grew, but instead of going to the homeowners’ association as my wife suggested, I decided to handle it myself.
Then came the breaking point: one morning, I discovered bright orange spray paint across my yard spelling out “SELFISH JERK.” When I confronted him, Tim laughed it off as a prank. That was the last straw.
With the police offering little help, I turned to my brother Andrew, who runs a landscaping business. Together, we came up with a plan. Using a chalk-based, harmless dye connected to a modern sprinkler system, we set up a little surprise. After laying fresh sod and prepping everything, we waited.
That Sunday, while out walking his dog, Tim strolled past my yard—only to be doused head to toe in vivid blue water from the sprinklers. His stunned face and clothes stained bright blue were priceless.
He confronted me angrily, but I gave him back the same dismissive attitude he’d shown me all along. Since then, Tim’s antics have stopped. I’m keeping my guard up, but for now, the neighborhood peace has finally been restored.
