Elton had spent more than a decade enjoying the calm and friendly atmosphere of his neighborhood. Lawns were neatly kept, children played outside, and neighbors always exchanged a wave in passing. Life there was peaceful—until Gideon moved in next door.
At first, Gideon seemed pleasant and approachable. He introduced himself, mentioning that he and his wife had moved from the city in search of a slower, more relaxed lifestyle. They spoke about neighborhood barbecues and lazy summer afternoons, and Elton felt confident they’d get along well.
A couple of weeks later, Gideon asked to use Elton’s driveway while his own was being repaved. Elton politely explained that it wouldn’t be possible—his family’s cars and their teenagers’ frequent comings and goings meant the driveway was always occupied. Gideon didn’t appear thrilled with the answer, but Elton thought the matter had been resolved.
The following morning, however, Elton stepped outside to find Gideon’s car parked directly in his driveway, blocking all access. Frustrated, Elton walked over and knocked on his neighbor’s door. Gideon, still in his robe, explained that it was “only for a few hours.” Elton asked him to move it immediately, and he did—but similar incidents began happening repeatedly. Soon, Gideon was using the driveway for his own vehicles, for visitors’ cars, and even for storing large lawn equipment.
One evening, over dinner, Elton shared his frustration with his wife, Maris. She suggested filing a formal complaint with the homeowners’ association, and Elton agreed it was a reasonable approach. But before he could act, the situation took an unexpected turn.
The next morning, Elton discovered that his front lawn had been spray-painted in bright orange letters spelling out a rude message. Shocked and upset, he confronted Gideon, who appeared amused rather than apologetic. Elton reported the incident to the police, but since the paint wasn’t permanent, they could only make an official record of it.
That’s when Elton called his brother, Thane, who owned a landscaping business. Thane listened carefully, then assured Elton he had a clever, harmless solution in mind. That weekend, Thane’s crew replaced Elton’s lawn with fresh sod and installed a sprinkler system connected to a special, non-toxic, chalk-based dye. Safe for people, pets, and plants, the dye would briefly tint the water a bright, attention-grabbing color.
The next morning, Elton sat on his porch with a cup of coffee as Gideon walked past with his dog. Right on schedule, the sprinklers activated, spraying a fine mist of vivid blue water across the sidewalk. Gideon stopped in surprise, quickly stepping away while his dog shook off the colorful droplets.
Later that day, Gideon came to the door, still faintly tinted from the morning walk. Elton greeted him politely, and after a brief exchange, Gideon turned and left without further comment.
From that day forward, Gideon stopped parking in Elton’s driveway and kept his distance. Life in the neighborhood returned to its usual calm—and Elton remained prepared, just in case the peace was ever disturbed again.
