The night before Halloween, after a 12-hour shift, I parked in front of my neighbor Derek’s house because our driveway was blocked. The next morning, my car was covered in eggs, yolks dripping down the windshield. A trail of shells led straight to Derek’s door. When I confronted him, he smirked: “You blocked my Halloween decorations. That’s why I egged your car.” I clenched my fists but smiled quietly and walked away—with a plan. At his Halloween party, I gave Derek a “gift.” He opened the box, froze, and screamed down the street: “OH GOD, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!

When a single mom finds her car vandalized just days before Halloween, she’s stunned to discover her festive neighbor is behind it. But instead of retaliating, she chooses a smarter path — one lined with patience, careful documentation, and quiet, unwavering resolve. The morning before Halloween, I opened my front door to find my car plastered in egg yolks and wrapped in clumps of toilet paper. “Mommy… is the car sick?” my three-year-old, Noah, whispered, pointing with wide eyes. And just like that, the day began. I’m Emily. I’m thirty-six, a full-time nurse, and a single mom to three very loud, very messy, and incredibly resilient children: Lily, Max, and Noah. Most mornings start long before the sun peeks over the horizon, and end hours after bedtime stories are whispered over yawns. My life isn’t glamorous, but it’s ours, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I didn’t ask for drama that Halloween. I didn’t plan on starting a feud. I just wanted to park close to my…