\u201cDid you see who egged my car?\u201d she demanded.<\/p>\n
Brad didn\u2019t even blink. \u201cI did,\u201d he said casually. \u201cYour car was blocking the view of my decorations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Genevieve was stunned. \u201cYou egged my car because it was in front of your house? You didn\u2019t even ask me to move it!\u201d<\/p>\n
Brad shrugged. \u201cPeople come from all over to see my display. How can they see it if your car is blocking the view?\u201d<\/p>\n
He crossed his arms, completely unfazed. \u201cI\u2019m the Halloween King. This display is a big deal, and I\u2019m just asking for a little cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Genevieve\u2019s rage simmered beneath the surface. \u201cI\u2019ve got newborn twins, Brad. I parked there because it\u2019s easier for me when I\u2019m carrying two babies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brad shrugged again. \u201cThat\u2019s not my problem, Genevieve. After Halloween, you can park there again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Genevieve stood speechless, her exhaustion dulling the sharpness of her anger. Instead of yelling, she turned and walked away. But as she cleaned her egg-covered car later that day, a thought crossed her mind\u2014this wasn\u2019t over. If Brad wanted to play dirty, she was ready to play smarter.<\/p>\n
That night, rocking Lily to sleep in the nursery, an idea formed. Brad\u2019s weakness was his pride\u2014his haunted house display. He needed his elaborate decorations to be perfect. Genevieve didn\u2019t have the energy for a direct confrontation, but subtle revenge? That she could do.<\/p>\n
The next day, Genevieve walked over to Brad\u2019s yard as he was putting the final touches on his decorations. \u201cHey, Brad,\u201d she called out cheerfully. \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking\u2014your setup looks great, but have you ever considered adding some high-tech stuff to really make it pop? Like fog machines and ghost projectors?\u201d<\/p>\n
Brad paused, eyeing her suspiciously. \u201cUpgrade?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
Genevieve nodded, rattling off the names of a few brands she had researched. All of them were cheap machines known for their terrible performance, but Brad didn\u2019t need to know that. \u201cIf you want to be the best on the block, these could take it to the next level,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Brad\u2019s eyes lit up. He loved any opportunity to outdo the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Halloween night arrived, and Brad\u2019s house looked spectacular. He\u2019d gone all out, installing fog machines and ghost projectors, creating an atmosphere that had parents and kids gathering in awe on the sidewalk. Brad stood proudly amidst the admiration, enjoying the spotlight.<\/p>\n
Genevieve watched from her porch, holding her twins, feeling like the villain in a low-budget drama. She had to admit, it did look impressive\u2014for a while. Then, just as she predicted, things began to fall apart.<\/p>\n
Right on cue, the fog machine sputtered, turning into a malfunctioning sprinkler and spraying water across Brad\u2019s lawn. Kids giggled, and the adults tried to stifle their laughter as Brad raced over, desperately fiddling with buttons to no avail.<\/p>\n