After sending their mother on her dream vacation, her sons teamed up to implement their secret plan. When their mom returned home later, she did not recognize her home and burst into tears after seeing what they had done.
Nothing can be more painful than the untimely death of a loved one. Mother of two, Janet, experienced harrowing grief as she witnessed her husband of 25 years, Thomas, buried and gone.
It had been two months since her husband was laid to rest. The wetness on the mound of soil on his grave dried up, but Janet was still drowning in agony and tears.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Eric and Brad couldn’t bear to see their mother in so much pain. To comfort her one day, they discussed with her places she would love to visit.
Florence brought out an old photo album and began sharing cute moments of her love story with their late dad, and suddenly burst into tears pointing to one particular picture…
“I still remember this place,” she cried, showing an old picture of a bridge. “I met your dad here. We shared the same passion for wandering in nature and bird watching. I wish I could go there again and tell him how much I miss him.”
“Oh my God! What happened to my house?” gasped the mother.
After listening to their mother’s longing, 20-year-old Eric and Brad had an idea. The next day, they surprised her with a plane ticket in order to fulfill her wish.
“But it’s thousands of miles away. Are you sure you want me to go so far alone?” Janet asked her boys, surprised and in tears.
“Mom, trust us…you will not regret this trip,” said Eric.
“Yeah, mom…you need a break…you should go.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Janet could not resist the offer because she was happy to be able to revisit the place that symbolized her love for her late husband. She agreed and left for the vacation two days later, unaware of what her sons had planned to do to her house.
“Son, thank you so much. It still feels the same, and I am standing on the bridge where your father proposed to me!” Janet said on a call from her vacation spot.
“Mom, we are glad you are enjoying your holiday. I hope you are comfortable in the hotel we booked for you,” replied Eric.
“Yes, son, it is amazing. It still feels like yesterday when I met your father. I wish you two were with me now.”
“Well, sorry, mom…Brad and I have important work back here… Maybe some other time okay? Talk to you later, bye!”
Janet blindly believed Eric and assumed they indeed had some important work. But she knew little what was in their mind.
Janet toured around the city for the next few days, recalling her lovely times with Thomas. She visited every place, including their favorite café, and felt her heart lighten up with their memories.
Meanwhile, Eric and Brad realized they were running out of time and decided to implement their plan. They had also taken a week off work to be able to accomplish what they set out to do before their mother returned.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“Hurry up, Brad. We have to remove this one before she comes,” Eric said.
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s hurry,” replied Brad.
“Glad that you came up with the idea of sending her away,” Eric added. “Or else, we would not have been able to do this.”
The two were busy all week long. They woke up before sunrise and were occupied until late at night. Soon, the day of Janet’s return arrived. Eric picked her up from the airport and was anxious.
“…And then I went to the café where your dad gifted me that….” Janet shared about her trip. “What is wrong, sweetheart? You look tense.”
“Ah, nothing, mom…I’m just tired,” Eric pretended.
Janet knew something was wrong, especially after seeing Eric constantly on his phone.
“Is everything ready? Yeah, we’re on our way…soon….” she overheard him talk to someone. Janet grew suspicious and arrived home, only to witness the biggest shock of her life.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
“Oh my God!” she gasped. “What happened to my house? H-how did you boys do it?”
Eric and Brad approached their mom, leading her by the hand to her house.
“Here, mom, we finished what dad started,” they chorused, showing her to her revamped house. “…And wait, there is another surprise for you.”
The brothers had teamed up to fix the house and paint it. Their dad had started repairing the home but died of cardiac arrest, leaving the renovations unfinished. So Eric and Brad surprised their mother by completing it for their father. They renovated the kitchen, added new furniture to the living room, and painted the house.
Janet was astonished to see her home’s new makeover. She could not believe her eyes and burst into tears, only to be told to hold back her tears for another heartwarming surprise.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
Eric and Brad blindfolded their mother and led her to her bedroom. As soon as they removed the blindfold, an emotional Janet gaped in astonishment.
“Oh my God, this is unbelievable!” she cried.
The wainscotted wall displayed a beautiful collection of family photos from different timelines. Her children’s heartwarming gesture touched Janet. She hugged and kissed them, unable to stop crying.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Eric and Brad knew their mom would love their surprise. But seeing her so emotional and drowning in tears of joy brought more tears to their eyes.
Later that evening, Janet spent a long time with her sons in front of the fireplace, sharing her holiday experience.
“….And here’s what’s more surprising! I felt your dad hand on my shoulder as soon as I closed my eyes and said, “I love you” on the bridge. I felt his presence in a gush of wind that made my heart lighter and happier!”
“Yeah, mom, dad is always with us in our memories!” said Eric as Brad played a beautiful melody on the piano, filling their lovely home with sweet memories!
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
What can we learn from this story?
- Love and honor your parents’ wishes. After their dad died, Eric and Brad sent their mother on her dream vacation to cherish her memories. Then they surprised her with a wonderful home makeover to honor their dad and finish the house repairs he had started.
- A little heartwarming act can bring happiness into a person’s life and help them overcome their sorrow. Besides renovating their house, Eric and Brad surprised their mom by revamping her bedroom with their family photos. Janet was touched, and it made her feel lighter.
An 87-year-old man returned home from the hospital, only to see his things taken out and strewn outside his home. His heart shattered when the grandson he thought was there to care for him said something surprising. Click here to read the full story.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
My Neighbors Persistently Tossed Their Dogs’ Waste into Our Yard – My Retaliation Was Severe
Sometimes, you reach a point where you have to stand your ground, and that’s exactly what happened to me. This story is about how I went from being the laid-back neighbor to someone who served up a slice of justice with a little extra something on the side.
My name’s Mandy, and let me start by saying that I’m not one to hold grudges. I’m a firm believer in “live and let live,” the kind of person who prefers to keep the peace and not sweat the small stuff.
I live in a small, quiet suburban neighborhood. You know the kind, where everyone waves at each other in the morning and you can leave your doors unlocked without a second thought. It’s the perfect place to raise my two kids.
Our home has a charming little garden out front, complete with a white picket fence—the whole package, really. But as idyllic as it sounds, even paradise can have a few thorns.
The Thompsons — John and Sarah — moved in next door about a year ago. They seemed nice enough at first. They were in their early 40s, two big dogs named Max and Daisy, and had no kids. We exchanged pleasantries, borrowed a cup of sugar here and there, and I even gave them some of my homemade chocolate chip cookies as a welcome gift.
You know, just your typical neighborly stuff. But after a few months, things started to change, and not for the better.
Those dogs quickly became the bane of my existence. Don’t get me wrong, I love animals, but these dogs had a habit that was driving me up the wall. They’d do their business right at the edge of their yard, but they didn’t stop there. No, the Thompsons had devised a little system.
They’d wait until they thought no one was looking, scoop up the mess, and then—get this—they’d toss it right over the fence into my garden. It started off as an occasional thing, but before long, I was finding piles of dog crap in my flower beds nearly every other day.
At first, I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. Who throws dog poop over a fence on purpose, right? I figured it had to be some kind of accident. So, I decided to address the issue directly, hoping a friendly chat would solve the problem.
One afternoon, as John and I were both out in our yards, I decided to bring it up.
“Hey, John,” I said with a smile, trying to keep things light, “I’ve noticed some dog poop in my garden lately. I think it might be from Max or Daisy. Could you maybe keep an eye on them when they’re outside?”
John turned to me, his face breaking into a tight-lipped smile, the kind that doesn’t quite reach the eyes. “Oh, I’m sure it’s not them. Maybe it’s your kids,” he said with a slight smirk, as if he were mocking me.
I was taken aback. My kids? Really? I wanted to argue, but I could see that John wasn’t in the mood to admit anything. I didn’t want to escalate things into a shouting match with my neighbor, so I decided to let it go—for the moment, at least.
But I knew I couldn’t just let this slide. They weren’t going to stop unless I did something about it, and confronting them directly hadn’t worked. So, I decided it was time for something a little more… creative. Something subtle, yet effective.
A plan started to form in my mind, and the more I thought about it, the more deliciously petty it seemed. If they were going to keep throwing their dogs’ crap into my yard, I was going to give them a taste of their own medicine—literally.
Now, I should mention that I’ve always been a pretty good baker. My chocolate chip cookies are legendary around here, so I figured it was time to put that reputation to good use. The plan was simple: I’d bake a batch of cookies, but with a little twist.
The next day, I gathered my supplies—flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and a little something extra. I’m not proud of what I did next, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I went out to my garden, put on a pair of gloves, and scooped up some of the offending material, sealing it in a bag.
Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify. I wasn’t about to use actual dog poop in my baking. But I needed something that would get the message across.
Instead, I headed to the pet store and picked up a bag of the smelliest dog treats I could find. These little brown nuggets looked just like chocolate chips, but they had a distinctly unpleasant odor. Perfect. I mixed them in with the real chocolate chips, baked up a fresh batch of cookies, and let them cool.
As the cookies baked, the scent wafted through my kitchen. The aroma of chocolate mixed with the pungent smell of dog treats created an odd, unsettling combination. It wasn’t pleasant, but it was exactly what I needed. I could barely stomach it, but I pushed through, knowing the Thompsons were about to get a taste of their own medicine.
Once the cookies had cooled, I carefully packed them into a shiny, decorative tin. To add a final touch, I wrote a note in my best handwriting:
“To the best neighbors, enjoy these fresh-baked cookies! – The Wilsons”
I chuckled to myself as I imagined their reaction, but I wasn’t done yet. Timing was everything. The next day, I waited patiently until I saw Mrs. Thompson head out, likely on one of her daily errands. With the coast clear, I darted across our lawns and stealthily placed the tin of cookies on their porch. Then, I retreated to my house, positioning myself near the window so I could observe the aftermath.
It didn’t take long for the chaos to begin. That evening, while watering my garden, I heard a commotion erupt from the Thompson household. The dogs were barking like mad, their deep barks echoing through the quiet neighborhood. Amid the noise, I caught the unmistakable sound of Mr. Thompson shouting, “What the hell is wrong with these cookies?!”
I couldn’t resist the grin that spread across my face. This was better than I’d imagined. I knew they’d discover that something was off, but I hadn’t anticipated just how quickly it would all unfold.
Several hours later, I overheard the Thompsons having a heated discussion in their backyard. Their voices were low, but they carried clearly across the fence.
“Those Wilsons gave us some kind of sick prank cookies!” Mrs. Thompson hissed, her voice filled with anger and embarrassment.
“They must’ve known about the poop,” Mr. Thompson replied, his tone a mix of frustration and guilt. “What are we going to do?”
“Just keep quiet,” she said, her voice firm. “We don’t want the whole neighborhood knowing we’ve been throwing dog crap over the fence.”
I nearly dropped my watering can. There it was—the confirmation I had been waiting for. They were guilty, and they knew it. And now, they realized that I knew too.
But here’s the best part: a few days later, something miraculous happened. The dog poop stopped appearing in my yard. It was as if by magic. My little act of revenge had worked, and I couldn’t have been more pleased.
Yet, the story didn’t end there. A few weeks later, our neighborhood hosted a BBQ, and the Thompsons showed up. They seemed subdued, keeping mostly to themselves and avoiding eye contact with me. But I wasn’t about to let them off the hook that easily.
“Hey, John! Sarah!” I called out cheerfully, waving them over with a plate of fresh cookies in hand. “I’ve got some more cookies for the party. Want to try one?”
Their faces went pale as they caught sight of the cookies. They mumbled something about being full and quickly excused themselves, practically fleeing in the opposite direction. I chuckled to myself as I watched them scurry away. The rest of the neighbors happily devoured the cookies, unaware of the inside joke between me and the Thompsons.
As the evening wore on, I overheard some of the neighbors chatting about the Thompsons.
“Have you noticed how quiet their dogs have been lately?” one neighbor asked.
“Yeah, and their yard’s been spotless,” another added.
It seemed my little act of creative revenge had not only solved my problem but had also reformed the Thompsons’ behavior. They were now the model neighbors, all thanks to a little ingenuity and a lot of nerve.
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