Meredith had cared for her garden all her life, a sanctuary created with love alongside her late husband. When the neighbor’s teenage boys deliberately destroyed this peaceful haven to spite her, her world was shaken. Meredith decided to get revenge and teach the boys a lesson they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Meredith had lived in her house for 40 years. Her late husband, James, had built it with his own hands. Every detail of the house was filled with memories of their life together.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The wooden beams in the ceiling, the handcrafted cabinets in the kitchen, and the cozy fireplace in the living room all bore his mark. They had lived peacefully for most of those years, enjoying friendly neighbors, quiet streets, and lovely local shops.
However a few years ago, everything changed when the Schneiders moved in next door with their two boys, Tom and Derek. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider allowed their sons to do literally anything they wanted. Meredith had never seen anyone scold them, not even once.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
When they first moved in, Tom was 10, and Derek was 8. Even then, they were always causing trouble—playing loud games, leaving their toys in her yard, and being generally disruptive. Now, as teenagers, their antics had become a nightmare for Meredith.
On the night that changed everything, she was lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling. The clock showed 2 a.m., and the sounds of screams and loud music from the Schneiders’ house filled the air. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider had gone away for the weekend, leaving Tom and Derek alone.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
They had seized the opportunity to throw a wild party. Meredith tried to cover her ears with her pillow, but it was no use. The noise was unbearable.
She had tried to be a good neighbor, always hoping the boys would grow out of their mischief. But her patience had run out.
Meredith sighed deeply and got out of bed. She slipped into her robe and slippers, determined to put an end to the chaos. She walked across her yard and up to the Schneiders’ front door.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The loud music and shouting seemed to vibrate through the walls. She knocked hard on the door, but the sound was swallowed by the blaring music. Frustrated, she opened the door and stepped inside.
The scene before her was chaotic. Teenagers were everywhere, yelling and laughing. The music was deafening, and snacks were scattered all over the floor.
Some kids were dancing on the furniture, and others were throwing food at each other. Meredith felt a surge of anger and determination. She scanned the room and spotted a karaoke microphone on the table. She grabbed it and took a deep breath.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“You have ten minutes to disperse, or I’m calling the police!” Meredith shouted into the microphone, her voice echoing through the room. The teenagers glanced at her but didn’t move, continuing to talk and laugh as if she wasn’t there.
Frustrated, she walked over to the speaker and yanked the plug from the wall. The music stopped abruptly, and a chorus of “Hey!” erupted from various parts of the house.
Tom stormed over to her, his face red with anger. “Old lady, have you lost your mind? Can’t you see we’re having a party?!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Meredith stood her ground. “Don’t you dare speak to me like that, young man! Everybody has ten minutes to leave, or I’m calling the police!”
Tom sneered at her. “I’ll call the police on you for trespassing!”
Meredith’s eyes narrowed. “Ten. Minutes.”
Tom stepped closer, his voice dripping with defiance. “And I give you ten seconds to get out of our house!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“How dare you speak to your elders like that?!” Meredith said, her voice shaking with anger.
“Leave, or I’ll have to throw you out,” Tom threatened, his tone menacing.
Meredith dropped the karaoke microphone on the floor and walked out of the house. Behind her, she heard cheers and praises for Tom, the teenagers celebrating their defiance.
Ignoring them, she marched back to her house. As soon as she stepped through her front door, she picked up the phone and dialed the police.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“There’s a loud, disruptive party at 23 Oak Street. It needs to stop,” she reported, her voice steady despite her anger.
In less than ten minutes, the police arrived. Meredith stood outside, watching as the officers approached the Schneider house. The teenagers began to scatter in all directions, their carefree laughter replaced by hurried whispers and anxious looks.
The police spoke with Tom and Derek, issuing them a fine for the noise disturbance. As the officers left, Derek noticed Meredith standing nearby. He glared at her, his face twisted with anger. “You’ll regret this, old hag!” he shouted.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Meredith didn’t flinch. She simply waved at them and went back inside, shaking her head. She couldn’t understand how parents could neglect their children’s upbringing so much that they didn’t teach them basic respect for others. It baffled her that the Schneiders let their boys run wild without any consequences.
Meredith returned to her bedroom, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She had stood up for herself, and now, hopefully, she would have some peace. She lay down, the quiet of the night settling around her. Finally, she drifted off to sleep, her heart a little lighter.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The next morning, Meredith woke up in a surprisingly good mood. She believed that after calling the police on the Schneider boys, they would finally stop causing trouble. She hummed a little tune as she went down to the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee.
The aroma filled the air, bringing back memories of mornings spent with her husband. Meredith decided to drink her coffee in their garden, as she used to do with James.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The garden was their shared hobby, and they had spent countless hours working on it together. Even after his death, Meredith felt his presence whenever she went into the garden.
She took her cup and stepped outside, expecting to find peace among the flowers and trees. But as soon as she saw the garden, she gasped and dropped her cup. It shattered on the ground, the sound echoing in the silence.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked around in horror. Her beautiful garden was destroyed. Every flower and tree had been uprooted, their roots damaged.
The stone path was broken, all the garden figurines were smashed, and the swing her husband had built was also broken. On the fence, a large graffiti depicted Meredith as a devil.
Meredith was sure that Tom and Derek were behind this, and she wasn’t going to let it go. Fury surged through her as she marched over to the Schneiders’ house. She saw their car in the driveway and knew they had returned.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Without hesitation, she approached the door and knocked loudly. After a moment, Mrs. Schneider opened the door, looking surprised.
“Hello, Meredith. How are you?” Mrs. Schneider asked with a forced smile.
“How am I? Your kids destroyed the garden my husband and I built our whole lives! How do you think I am?” Meredith shouted, her face red with anger.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, come on, it can’t be that bad,” Mrs. Schneider said, rolling her eyes.
“Are you kidding me? They ruined everything! There’s nothing left to restore!” Meredith’s voice trembled with frustration.
“They’re just kids, Meredith. They’re going through a rebellious phase.”
“Just kids? They’re not just kids! They’re completely undisciplined, selfish, and mean!” Meredith’s hands clenched into fists.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Don’t you dare talk about my sons like that! And you don’t even know if it was them. You have no proof,” Mrs. Schneider retorted, her eyes narrowing.
Meredith opened her mouth to respond, but Mrs. Schneider slammed the door in her face.
Meredith couldn’t believe the audacity. Mrs. Schneider didn’t even apologize. Meredith returned to her garden, her heart heavy with sadness.
She looked around at the destruction, feeling the weight of her helplessness. She really had no proof that Tom and Derek did it, so the police wouldn’t believe her.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Then, a spark of hope ignited in her mind. She remembered the small camera hidden among the plants. Her late husband had installed it a few years ago to keep an eye on the garden and make sure animals didn’t eat their crops.
She hurried over to the spot where the camera was hidden. If the camera had captured the boys in the act, she would have the proof she needed.
Meredith took the camera inside and connected it to her computer. She anxiously waited for the video to load, hoping it had captured what she needed. When the footage finally appeared on the screen, she watched intently.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
There, clear as day, were Tom and Derek, tearing up her garden. They laughed as they pulled out flowers, smashed figurines, and spray-painted the fence. She quickly saved the recordings onto a flash drive and headed to the police station.
When she arrived, she explained the situation to the officer on duty and handed over the evidence. The officer reviewed the footage, nodding as he watched. “This is clear evidence,” he said. “We’ll open a case against Tom and Derek.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Meredith nodded, feeling a small sense of justice. She decided to sue them for the damage. A few weeks later, the court date arrived. Meredith sat in the courtroom, her heart pounding.
The judge reviewed the evidence and listened to both sides. In the end, the court ordered Tom and Derek to do community service. Their task was to restore Meredith’s garden, with the costs covered by their parents.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The punishment didn’t end there. The Schneiders, embarrassed and angry, severely punished their sons. They took away all their electronics and forbade them from seeing their friends.
Tom and Derek were not happy, but Meredith hoped this would be a lesson for them.
One morning, Meredith went out to her garden and watched Tom and Derek working. She noticed their awkward movements and realized they didn’t know how to do anything.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
They struggled with the simplest tasks, looking frustrated and confused. Meredith sighed and decided to step in. “Boys, let me show you how it’s done,” she said, taking the shovel from Tom’s hands.
She demonstrated how to plant flowers properly, explaining each step in a calm, patient voice. “You need to dig a hole deep enough for the roots, like this,” she said, showing them the correct depth. Derek watched closely, nodding as he began to understand.
Day by day, Meredith continued to teach them, guiding them with a firm but gentle hand. Slowly, the boys started to get the hang of it. They became more confident, their movements more assured.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Meredith noticed that they were even starting to enjoy the work. They laughed and joked with each other, and sometimes with her, as they planted new flowers and repaired the broken path.
Meredith saw that the boys felt guilty for what they had done. They hadn’t realized the consequences of their actions because no one had ever explained it to them. One particularly hot day, she decided to make them some lemonade.
“Tom! Derek! Come and drink some lemonade before you get a heatstroke!” Meredith shouted to make sure they heard her.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The boys looked up, wiped the sweat from their faces, and walked over to the table. They grabbed the glasses of lemonade and drank eagerly.
“Why are you so kind to us?” Derek asked, looking puzzled. “We always teased you, kept you up at night, and destroyed your garden.”
Meredith smiled gently. “Responding to anger with anger doesn’t lead to anything good,” she said.
Tom frowned and said, “But we treated you horribly.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, you did,” Meredith agreed, “but I want to show you there’s another way to build relationships. You’re doing a good job on the garden, and I appreciate your hard work.”
Derek looked down at his glass. “Thank you,” he said quietly.
“Yes, thank you,” Tom added. “And we’re sorry for everything bad we did.”
Meredith nodded, her smile warm. “I accept your apology. Now finish your drinks and get back to work. That tree won’t plant itself.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The boys laughed, finished their lemonade, and got back to work. Meredith watched them with a sense of hope. She saw them working together, more carefully and thoughtfully than before.
She hoped she had given them a valuable lesson they would remember for the rest of their lives. She wanted them to understand the importance of respect, hard work, and the impact of their actions on others.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
I Brought My Fiancé to Meet My Parents — He Fled in the Middle of the Night, Shouting ‘I Can’t Believe It!’
I’ve been with my fiancé for six years, and we were supposed to get married next month. But during a visit to my parents, he discovered their secret lifestyle, causing him to question our relationship too.
I’ve been with my fiancé for six years, but we’ve known each other for nine. We were supposed to get married next month, but then everything changed the course of our wedding journey.
We went to visit my parents to introduce him to more of my extended family before the wedding. My parents offered to host us, and we’ve been staying in my old room for the sake of nostalgia.
My fiancé, Adam, wanted to stay at a hotel, but I thought it would be fun to just have him share my old room with me.
“I don’t see why staying in your childhood home is going to change anything,” Adam told me when we were packing for the trip.
“Because it’s going to be my last time with my parents under their roof before I become a married woman. It’s going to be a sentimental moment,” I replied.
“If it gets uncomfortable, I’m just going to check myself into a hotel,” he said casually.
Of course, I didn’t expect what would happen next.
We got to my parents’ home, and everyone was excited to see us. My mother and aunt had cooked up an elaborate meal for us, ready to just sit down at the table and get to know Adam better.
All through dinner, everything went as well as expected, and Adam happily enjoyed having the attention centered around him.
“This is new for me,” he said as we did the dishes in between the mains and dessert. “I’m not used to having people pay attention to me like this.”
“It’s a good thing,” I said, handing him a plate. “You’re supposed to feel welcome and at home with my family, too.”
As the night died down and we all went to bed, ready for a good night’s sleep before the following day’s family outing to the local theme park, Adam kept disturbing my sleep.
“What’s going on?” I asked, turning to face him.
“I just can’t sleep, Sasha,” he snapped. “It’s not my bed, and I’m not used to sleeping in beds that aren’t my own. And your bed is lumpy and uncomfortable.”
“Just go and take a walk outside,” I grumbled. “The fresh air should make a difference, and you’ll come back and fall asleep.”
“Fine,” he said, getting out of bed and leaving the room.
I was just about to fall asleep again when Adam’s scream pierced the air. I bolted upright in bed with my heart racing.
What on earth was going on? Was there someone in the house? Were we in danger?
While my brain was moving a mile a minute, trying to decide what to do next, Adam stormed back into the room.
“What happened?” I blurted out, uneasy.
My fiancé’s face contorted in a mix of horror and anger, and he paused for a minute before he started yelling.
“I cannot believe it,” he yelled. “Your mom! Sasha! Your mother! She’s kissing another man in the foyer!”
My heart sank. I had hoped that we would have gotten through this entire visit without this.
If anything, I had always dreaded this moment, the time when my parents’ unusual and unconventional marriage would come to light.
I tried to explain, to calm him down, but he wouldn’t have it.
“Call your dad, Sasha,” Adam demanded. “Tell him that your mom is cheating right here in your own home.”
It seemed logical, simple even. And I understood why Adam would think that having my father involved would solve everything.
But he couldn’t be further from the truth.
Before I could react and begin navigating the explanation, my mom walked in, still straightening her clothes.
“I can explain,” she started, but my fiancé cut her off.
“Explain? What’s there to explain? You’re cheating on your husband in his own home!”
“It’s not cheating, darling,” she said softly. “Sasha knows, and she’ll explain it all to you. Shaun and my marriage is different. Very different. It’s unconventional compared to your usual marriage. You need to understand that, Adam, before you judge us.”
Adam turned to me, eyes wide.
“You knew? You knew about this, and you didn’t tell me?”
I tried to reach out to him, but he recoiled.
“I didn’t know how to tell you, and I’m not proud of keeping this secret. But it wasn’t mine to tell.”
“Sasha!” he said, his hands in the air. “You should have told me! This isn’t something that you just keep hidden from the person that you’re going to marry. I don’t know if I can trust you now. This was a setup, wasn’t it? You wanted to introduce me to this lifestyle, isn’t it?”
By this point, I was overwhelmed, and I couldn’t understand what Adam was getting at.
I was taken back to a memory from my youth. I was 16, and my friends were planning a sleepover at my home.
“You have the biggest room, Sasha,” my friend Brielle said. “Let’s have it at your place.”
“That’s perfectly fine with me,” I said. “I don’t think my parents will mind at all! And we can watch movies in the living room because my parents have a TV in their room now, so they won’t disturb us.”
“I’ll bring my cotton candy machine,” Brielle said excitedly. “We can have that and popcorn!”
Advertisement
I remember going home after school and telling my mother all about our plans. She smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
“Sure, honey,” she said. “You girls can take care of yourselves. Dad and I have a dinner that evening.”
Little did I know that later that evening, I would discover the truth about my parents’ marriage.
My friends and I were all sitting on the couch when my parents walked in with another couple. My mother was holding tightly onto a man’s hand as she kicked off her shoes. My father was kissing the other woman.
When they saw me, they were shocked. And they had no choice but to explain the situation to me.
“We are married to each other, and we love each other. We’re committed, honey. But we’re also allowed to see other people if we want to,” my mother explained gently. “There’s nothing wrong with the way we are. And you need to understand that.”
Now, listening to Adam, I was taken back to the same flood of emotions.
“No, it’s nothing like that,” I said. “I am dedicated to you. I don’t want that lifestyle.”
But Adam wasn’t having it. He just wasn’t listening. Instead, he began to speak about his mother’s infidelity which had led to his parents’ divorce. It all made him see betrayal everywhere.
“Everything is a red flag for me, Sasha.”
He packed a bag and left for a hotel, saying that he needed a moment to reevaluate our engagement.
I spent the rest of the night crying, feeling the weight of my parents’ choices crashing down on my own relationship.
“You need to talk to him,” my mother said, giving me a cup of coffee. “Just go to him.”
I joined him at the hotel. We barely spoke, the silence heavy with everything left unsaid. I didn’t know if Adam still wanted to be together or not. I suggested that we move to my grandmother’s house for the rest of our stay so that we could talk about everything while still being comfortable.
“Yeah,” he said. “That’s okay with me because this hotel is too cold anyway.”
There was a coldness between us that hadn’t been there before.
“I’ve never kept secrets from you,” I told him. “I didn’t know how to bring it up. It’s not something that I like talking about because I struggled to understand it myself.”
Adam sighed, rubbing his temples.
“I get it. But this feels too close to home, Sasha,” he said. “I just need some time.”
We spent the rest of the week at my grandmother’s house, trying to finish the family visit in the best spirits we could muster. My parents apologized to Adam, but it didn’t matter anymore.
It wasn’t about them. It was about the fact that their actions had triggered my fiancé. On the drive home, Adam and I decided that we wanted to stay together and see where life took us.
“But I think we need to go to therapy,” I said, handing Adam a drink.
“I think that’s a good idea,” he said, biting his lip. “Because I need to uncover my own trauma before accepting your parents.”
Now, Adam and I have started talking about everything. From his fears, my shame, our future. We could only heal from this.
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you.
My Entitled Parents Demanded That I Give Them My New House — My In-Laws Suddenly Stood up for Me
When Carina’s parents kick her out after high school, she has no choice but to navigate her way around life. Years later, after making a success of her life, and her wedding is around the corner, she reaches out to them, only for them to storm into her life, trying to take ownership of what she has worked so hard for.
Leave a Reply