Two months ago, my world turned upside down with a single phone call. My mom told me Grandpa Alvin had a heart attack and was in the hospital. I dropped everything and raced to the hospital, worried sick. Grandpa is my rock—my confidant, and, honestly, I might love him even more than Mom (shhh, don’t tell!).
After a tense wait, the doctor assured us Grandpa’s surgery was successful but he needed rest, a heart-healthy diet, and absolutely no stress. So, we hired a full-time nurse to help him at home, as he lived in another town.
Last weekend, I decided to visit Grandpa with Mom, bringing along a bouquet of his favorite sunflowers. When we arrived at his apartment complex, I noticed something that made my blood boil—someone had vandalized his car. Written on the rear windscreen, in what seemed to be fresh finger marks, was a hateful message: “YOU ARE A DIRTY PIG! CLEAN UP YOUR CAR OR GET OUT OF THE COMMUNITY. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!”
I was furious. How could someone be so heartless to an elderly man who’s been too ill to even get out of bed? Mom urged me to stay calm for Grandpa’s sake, so I forced myself to focus on his visit.
As I spent time with Grandpa, I couldn’t shake off the anger about the message. After our visit, I went to the security office to review the footage. There, I saw an elderly, snooty-looking woman—Briana from apartment 4C—writing the message on Grandpa’s car. The security guard informed me that Briana had a reputation for being a troublemaker, harassing neighbors over the tiniest infractions.
Determined to teach her a lesson, I hatched a plan. The next day, I printed a screenshot of Briana’s vandalism from the security footage and made a bold sign reading: “SHAME! SHAME! SHAME! Lady from Apt 4C is abusing elderly neighbors.” I taped the sign in the elevator where everyone could see it.
The effect was immediate. Briana became the talk of the building, and people started giving her the cold shoulder. I visited Grandpa again a few days later and overheard neighbors gossiping about Briana’s disgraceful behavior. Grandpa, unaware it was me, mentioned the drama with Briana and how everyone had turned against her.
Sometimes, you have to fight fire with fire. Briana’s harassment met with the public shaming she deserved. What would you have done in my place?
