I’m 34, married, a dad of one, living on a quiet suburban street obsessed with property values and appearances. I drive a 2009 Honda Civic—old, scratched, paid off, and reliable.
My neighbor Vernon hated it. He made passive-aggressive comments—until one night my five-year-old spiked a 104.5 fever and I ran outside to rush him to the ER.
My car was completely frozen solid—intentionally. An icy trail led straight to Vernon’s hose. He later bragged about it in the neighborhood Facebook group, calling it “protecting neighborhood aesthetics.”
So we did the same.
We reported his HOA and city violations—unapproved shed, illegal floodlights, freezing-weather hose use. Inspectors came. Fines followed. His perfect yard fell apart.
My son is okay.
My Civic is still in the driveway.
And the neighborhood has never looked better.
