For more than ten years, Elton enjoyed the peace and quiet of his neighborhood, a place where lawns were well-kept, neighbors greeted each other warmly, and children played outside without a care. That calm was shattered when Gideon moved in next door. At first, Gideon seemed friendly enough, introducing himself and chatting about how he and his wife had left the city for a more peaceful life.
Elton welcomed him, thinking they would get along fine. But the trouble began when Gideon asked to use Elton’s driveway for a few days while his own was being repaved. Elton explained that with two cars of his own and his teenage children’s vehicles constantly coming and going, it wasn’t practical. Gideon didn’t take the refusal well, walking off in a huff. The next morning, Elton found Gideon’s car blocking his driveway anyway, making him late and disrupting the entire family’s schedule. When confronted, Gideon brushed it off as “only for a few hours,” but Elton insisted he move it immediately. That should have been the end of it, but over the next week, Gideon repeatedly used Elton’s driveway for his cars, his friends’ vehicles, or even to store equipment.
When Elton complained to his wife, she urged him not to start a fight and suggested filing a formal complaint with the homeowners’ association instead. Before Elton could take that step, things escalated. One morning, he stepped outside to find his pristine lawn vandalized with bright orange spray paint reading “SELFISH JERK” in large, bold letters. The sight infuriated him—not only had his hard work on the lawn been ruined, but now the whole neighborhood could see the insult.
He stormed over to Gideon’s house, snapping photos of the damage, only to be met by Gideon’s smug grin. When Elton demanded to know if he thought this was funny, Gideon laughed and mocked the idea of calling the police over “some paint.” Fighting to control his temper, Elton warned Gideon he’d regret it and left to file a police report. Unfortunately, the authorities could do little since the paint wasn’t permanent and the property wasn’t seriously damaged. Still seething, Elton began plotting.
He called his brother Thane, who owned a landscaping company, and explained the situation. Thane laughed but assured him he had the perfect solution—a new chalk-based, non-toxic dye designed for sprinklers that could deliver a colorful surprise. That weekend, Thane and his crew arrived, removed the damaged grass, and laid down fresh, flawless sod. Then they set up a special sprinkler system with the dye, which was safe, washable, and completely harmless—but guaranteed to make an impression.
Elton didn’t have to wait long. Early Sunday morning, as Gideon walked his dog past Elton’s house, Elton stood on his porch with a cup of coffee, ready to watch the show. At the perfect moment, the sprinklers activated, drenching Gideon and his dog in a brilliant blue spray. Gideon’s shocked expression was priceless as he shouted curses and bolted, leaving a trail of blue water behind him. The entire neighborhood witnessed his humiliation. Later that day, Gideon stomped over, still streaked with blue stains, demanding, “What the hell, man?
” Elton, leaning casually in the doorway with his arms crossed, coolly replied, “What are you going to do, Gideon? Call the cops about some water?” Gideon turned without another word and walked away in silence. Since that day, he hasn’t tried to park in Elton’s driveway or pull any more stunts. Elton is content to wait, ready to teach him another lesson if he ever decides to start trouble again.
