I’ve got this neighbor who treats my driveway like his personal parking spot. He drives a big black SUV and parks it there as if he’s marking his territory. The first time it happened, I figured it was an honest mistake.
Our street is narrow, and parking space is limited, so I tried to be understanding. I left a polite note on his windshield: “Hey, friendly reminder—this driveway belongs to me :)” The smiley face was my attempt to keep things civil. But the next day, there it was again—his massive SUV, right in my driveway, like a silent middle finger.
No note in return. No apology. Just that same car, sitting there as if daring me to complain.
So I knocked on his door. He answered in pajama pants, wearing a “what now?” expression. “Hey,” I said, “just a reminder—you can’t park in my driveway.”
“Yeah, I’ll move it later,” he muttered.
“Later” turned out to be three hours. And that became the pattern. He’d park there whenever it suited him—sometimes just for quick errands, sometimes overnight, sometimes when I wasn’t even home.
I started keeping records: dates, times, photos. I didn’t want to be that neighbor, but I had a feeling this was going to escalate sooner or later. Then, last week, after a grueling 12-hour shift, I came home exhausted—dreaming only of a shower and my bed.
But there it was again. His SUV. In my driveway.
I sat in my car for a long moment, gripping the steering wheel, trying to calm myself. Then I called his number. Straight to voicemail.
I honked—once, twice—waited. Nothing. So I ended up driving two blocks away, parking on the street, and walking home in the cold.
My feet ached, my back throbbed, and my patience finally snapped. I’d had enough. The stage was set for revenge.
The next morning, I went to the hardware store and found the perfect solution to my problem. The following evening, like clockwork, his SUV rolled right back into my driveway. I watched from the kitchen window as he got out and strolled casually to his house.
As soon as he went inside, I grabbed my wrench and headed out. Half an hour later, a bright yellow bollard stood proudly in my driveway—locked upright behind his rear bumper. I admired my work, went back inside, and slept better than I had in weeks.
Early the next morning, there was a knock at my door. He finally confronted me—furious and desperate. I didn’t answer.
Then my phone started buzzing. I ignored that too. I just went about my day, peaceful for once.
By the afternoon, his SUV was still there, trapped exactly where he’d left it. When I returned home from work, he came storming out of his house. “You blocked my car in!
I missed work! I’m reporting you!” he yelled. “Me?” I said calmly, unlocking the bollard.
“I’m not the one who keeps parking in someone else’s driveway.”
He spluttered something about “theft” and “damage” before speeding off, tires squealing. I just waved and walked inside. And now… well, I sometimes wonder if I went too far.
Maybe it was a little extreme. But then I look out at my clear, SUV-free driveway—and I can’t help thinking that bright yellow bollard might just be the best decision I ever made. Source: brightside.me
Note: This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events.
Names, characters, and details have been altered. Any resemblance is coincidental. The author and publisher disclaim accuracy, liability, and responsibility for interpretations or reliance.
All images are for illustration purposes only.
