Elton had enjoyed more than a decade of peace in his quiet neighborhood, where neighbors kept tidy lawns, kids played in the streets, and everyone waved as they passed. That all changed when Gideon moved in next door. At first, Gideon seemed perfectly pleasant.
He introduced himself, explaining that he and his wife had left the city in search of a calmer life. They chatted about neighborhood barbecues and lazy afternoons, and Elton thought they’d get along fine.
A couple of weeks later, Gideon asked to use Elton’s driveway while his own was being repaved.
Elton explained that it wasn’t possible—between his and his wife’s cars and their teenagers coming and going, the driveway was always full. Gideon didn’t take the refusal well, but Elton thought the matter was settled.
The next morning, Elton stepped outside to find Gideon’s car parked squarely in his driveway, blocking everyone in.
Frustrated, he marched over and knocked on Gideon’s door. Still in his robe, Gideon shrugged it off, saying it was “only for a few hours.” Elton demanded he move it immediately, which he did, but the pattern continued. Gideon began using the driveway for his cars, his friends’ cars, even lawn equipment.
One evening over dinner, Elton vented to his wife Maris, who suggested he file a formal complaint with the homeowners’ association. Elton agreed it was the smart choice, but before he could act, things escalated.
The next morning, Elton walked outside to find his pristine lawn defaced with bright orange spray paint spelling out “SELFISH JERK” in huge letters.
Furious, he confronted Gideon, who grinned like a child who had pulled off a prank. Elton told him he’d regret it and went straight to the police. Unfortunately, because the paint wasn’t permanent, there wasn’t much they could do beyond making a record of the incident.
That’s when Elton called his brother Thane, who owned a landscaping company. Thane listened, laughed, and assured him he had the perfect solution. Over the weekend, Thane’s crew replaced Elton’s damaged lawn with flawless new sod. But the real surprise was the addition of a special chalk-based, non-toxic dye hooked up to Elton’s sprinkler system—harmless to people and pets but guaranteed to make a statement.
The next morning, Elton waited with his coffee as Gideon walked his dog past the house. Right on cue, the sprinklers burst to life, drenching Gideon and his dog in a spray of vivid blue water. The look on Gideon’s face was priceless as he shouted and hurried away, leaving a trail of blue behind him.
Later that day, Gideon stormed over, still stained head to toe. “What the hell, man?” he barked. Elton leaned casually in the doorway and said, “What are you going to do, Gideon? Call the police about some water?” Gideon turned and walked away in silence.
From that day on, Gideon stopped parking in Elton’s driveway and kept his distance. Elton hasn’t had another problem with him—but he’s ready, just in case Gideon decides to start trouble again.v
