When my mother-in-law, Laura, began renovating her house, my husband and I offered her a place to stay. We had a spare room and a large garage, so it seemed like a kind gesture. Little did I know what I was in for.
Laura arrived with a few boxes, which quickly multiplied into a mountain of clutter. The garage filled up with her old furniture, dusty knick-knacks, and musty-smelling items. Soon, her things started spilling into the house: stray boxes in the hallway, a guest bedroom turned storage unit, and even a stack of old magazines in my bathroom.
I tried to be understanding, but the situation became overwhelming. Laura’s “help” around the house only added to the chaos. She rearranged my kitchen cabinets, destroyed my organized spice rack, and redecorated the living room with outdated décor. Every attempt to address the issue was met with her dismissive attitude.
One day, after finding yet another box in the laundry room, I decided I’d had enough. Laura had an irrational fear of clowns, so I hatched a plan to give her a taste of her own medicine. I ordered dozens of clown figurines, ranging from cute to creepy, and began placing them around the house. I hid them in the bathroom cabinets, kitchen drawers, and even her purse.
Laura’s reaction was priceless. Each time she found a clown, she screamed in terror. I played innocent, pretending I had no idea how they got there. The situation became a game, and I relished in her discomfort.
When Laura finally moved out, I made sure to leave a few clowns hidden in her boxes. I even visited her newly renovated home and scattered clowns throughout. Her furious call demanding to know why her home was now filled with clowns was met with my calm explanation that I thought she might like them, just as she had thought I would appreciate her clutter.
After Laura left, I donated all the junk she’d left behind, reclaiming my clutter-free, peaceful home. Though my approach wasn’t the most mature, it felt incredibly satisfying. And whenever I see a clown figurine, I smile, knowing that sometimes, a harmless prank is the perfect way to restore balance.
