
When I saw the cruel message scrawled on my recovering grandpa’s dusty car, I was livid. But uncovering the culprit’s identity was just the beginning. What I did next would teach this entitled neighbor a lesson she’d never forget.
Two months ago, I was at work when my phone rang. It was Mom.
“Meg, it’s Grandpa,” she barely managed to speak. “He’s in the hospital. He—”
“What? Hospital?” I cut her off, totally blindsided. “What happened?”

A woman talking on the phone at work | Source: Pexels
“He had a heart attack,” Mom continued in her shaky voice. “We gotta go see him.”
“Oh my God, Mom, is he okay?”
“I don’t know, Meg…”
“I’ll be there as fast as I can, Mom,” I replied as I quickly logged out of my work email.
The thing is, Grandpa Alvin is my rock, my confidant, and my favorite person in the world. It won’t be wrong to say that I love him more than Mom. Shh! It’s a secret!

An older man standing in his house | Source: Midjourney
And that phone call from Mom had turned my world upside down. I could literally feel a knot in my stomach as I rushed out of my office after informing my boss about Grandpa’s condition.
The drive home from my workplace is a blur. I don’t remember how I got there, but I quickly picked Mom up before we rushed to the hospital.

The drive from our house to the hospital was about 45 minutes long. And let me tell you, those were the longest, most painful 45 minutes of my life. Mom kept crying the entire time, while I could feel my heart pounding inside my chest.
Once we reached there, a nurse told us that Grandpa was in the operating room. After what felt like an eternity, the doctor came out.

A close-up shot of a doctor’s arms crossed on his chest | Source: Pexels
“The surgery was successful, but he needs rest and care,” he told us. “He needs to eat a heart-healthy diet, low in salt and saturated fats. Regular, gentle exercise is crucial. And absolutely no stress.”
“Alright, doc,” I nodded. “But when can we see him?”
“Is he really okay?” Mom asked impatiently.
“Don’t worry,” the doctor reassured her. “He’s resting comfortably now. The nurses will let you know when it’s a good time to visit.”

A doctor talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney
Grandpa was allowed to go home a few days later, but there was a problem. He lives in another town, and we couldn’t visit him every day to look after him.
As a result, we hired a full-time nurse.
She was a godsend, agreeing to cook for him too. For two months, Grandpa didn’t leave his apartment and focused solely on his recovery.
Last week, I realized it had been too long since I’d seen him.

A woman sitting on a chair, thinking | Source: Midjourney
“Mom,” I said over breakfast, “I’m going to visit Grandpa this weekend. Wanna come?”
Her eyes lit up.
“That’s a wonderful idea, honey,” she smiled. “I’ll come with you. He’ll be so happy to see us!”
“Perfect!” I said before I took a bite of my scrambled eggs.
On Saturday, I woke up early, bought a bouquet of Grandpa’s favorite bright yellow sunflowers, and drove all the way to his place with Mom.

I couldn’t wait to meet him and see his face light up. I was expecting a day full of Grandpa’s stories, unaware of what was waiting for us there.
As we pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex, I spotted his old, beat-up car. It was covered with a thick layer of dust, clearly proving he hadn’t driven it since getting sick.
But as we got closer, something made my blood boil.

A woman in a car | Source: Midjourney
Someone had left a message on the rear windscreen. It seemed like they had written it using their finger. It looked fresh.
The message read, “YOU ARE A DIRTY PIG! CLEAN UP YOUR CAR OR GET OUT OF THE COMMUNITY. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!”
I was absolutely furious. How could someone be so cruel to an old man who’s been too sick to even get out of bed, let alone clean his car?

A woman in a car, looking angry | Source: Midjourney
“Oh my God,” Mom gasped. “Who would do such a thing?”
I clenched my fists. I could feel my cheeks burn with rage.
“Some entitled jerk with nothing better to do than harass a sick old man, that’s who.”
Then, I felt Mom’s soft hand on my arm.
“Honey, calm down,” she said. “Let’s not upset your grandfather.”
I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself.
“You’re right. Let’s go see him.”

A parking lot of an apartment complex | Source: Pexels
We quickly headed up to Grandpa’s apartment. I rang the bell, waiting for him to open the door.
“My girls!” he smiled from ear to ear. “What a wonderful surprise!”
“Grandpa!” I hugged him tight. “You look so good! So handsome!”
“Well, of course I do!” he chuckled. “When have I ever not looked handsome? Even in my hospital gown, I was turning heads left and right!”

An older man in his house, smiling | Source: Midjourney
As we headed inside, I couldn’t stop thinking of the cruel message on his car. I couldn’t erase that image from my mind.
“Megan? Are you listening, sweetheart?” Grandpa’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“Sorry, Grandpa. I was just… thinking. How are you feeling?”
We chatted for a while, but my mind kept drifting to that message. I needed to do something about it.
“Hey, I need to take care of something real quick,” I said, standing up. “Mom, can you stay with Grandpa? I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

A woman talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney
“Sure, honey,” Mom said.
In no time, I headed down to the security office near the entrance, where I met a bored-looking guy sitting behind the desk.
“Excuse me,” I said. “I need to see the security camera footage from the parking lot.”
He raised an eyebrow as he straightened his back.
“Sorry, ma’am. We can’t just show that to anyone who asks.”

A security guard | Source: Midjourney
I leaned in, lowering my voice.
“Look, my grandfather lives here. He’s been very ill, and someone vandalized his car with a horrible message. I need to know who did it.”
The guard hesitated, then nodded.
“Alright, just this once.”
We reviewed the footage from the last few days when I suddenly saw an older, snooty-looking woman, heading towards Grandpa’s car. She took her sweet time to write that awful message on his car.

An older woman standing near a black car | Source: Midjourney
“Who is this?” I asked the guard.
“That’s Briana from 4C,” he said. “Always causing trouble.”
I thanked him and turned to leave, but he stopped me.
“Wait, there’s something else. I overheard some of the neighbors talking in the lobby last week. Apparently, this Briana woman has been giving your grandfather a hard time for months now.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
He scratched his chin thoughtfully.

A security guard talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney
“Well, they were saying she’s been complaining about every little thing. Like, she’d make a fuss if his newspaper was left out too long, or if his welcome mat wasn’t perfectly straight. One of the ladies even mentioned that Briana tried to get your grandpa fined for having a potted plant that was ‘an unapproved color’ or something ridiculous like that.”
“Are you serious? Why hasn’t anyone done anything about this?”
“Most folks just try to avoid her, I guess,” he shrugged.

“Your grandpa’s too nice to make a big deal out of it. But between you and me, I think everyone’s getting pretty fed up with her attitude.”
Yeah, my grandpa’s nice, but I’m not, I thought to myself before marching straight to Briana’s apartment.
The door opened soon after I knocked on it.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m Alvin’s granddaughter,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. “I saw what you wrote on his car. You have no right to humiliate him like that!”

A young woman talking to her grandfather’s neighbor | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t care,” she shrugged. “If he can’t keep up with community standards, maybe he shouldn’t be living here.”
And with that, she slammed the door in my face.
I was livid. It was clear that talking to her wasn’t going to get anywhere, so I decided to handle it my own way. I came up with a plan to teach her a lesson. All I needed was a roll of duct tape and a paper with evidence.

A woman leaving a building | Source: Midjourney
The next day, I took a screenshot of the security camera footage, ensuring Briana’s face was clear, and got it printed. Then, in big, bold letters, I wrote: “SHAME! SHAME! SHAME! Lady from Apt 4C is abusing elderly neighbors.”
I taped that sign right in the elevator where everyone would see it. It was crystal clear who she was and what she’d done.
Within a day, the whole building was buzzing.
You Don’t Wanna Miss These 29 Promo Codes If You Love a Bargain
Amazon makes it so easy for all of us to find amazing bargains and purchase items, even 50% off. Whether you need something for your kid, your beauty regimen, or your household, we have you covered. Keep scrolling to discover the 29 products that currently have promo codes.
Health and household
Vitamins for hair growth
15% promo code: 15YM1UIY (valid April 8 through May 2)

Pure Himalayan organic resin for immune support
50% promo code: 505K3R9Q (valid April 8 through May 2)
A set of shower steamers
50% promo code: 50RQ5NDP (valid April 8 through May 5)
Guava skin toner face sheets
50% promo code: 509JEZXV (valid April 21 through April 29)
Sandalwood beard oil
10% promo code: 10GYALIVE102 (valid April 15 through April 16)

Argan oil for hair growth
10% promo code: 10GYALIVE102 (valid April 15 through April 16)
Beauty and grooming
Professional hair dryer
50% promo code: 506RX57Y (valid April 8 through April 15)
Natural exfoliating loofah scrubber
50% promo code: 50U4IUP1 (valid April 8 through April 23)
Hair crimper for creating wavy hairstyles
50% promo code: 5043CP9S (valid April 9 through April 15)

Tattoo aftercare balm
50% promo code: 50CA1Q12 (valid April 26 through May 3)
Kitchen and dining
Heated portable lunch box
48% promo code: 48NOJV62 (valid April 9 through April 19)
Spoon rest with drip pad for multiple utensils
50% promo codes: 50MOVG21 (valid April 9 through April 30)
Blender for shakes and smoothies
50% promo code: 50LN1OW5 (valid April 9 through April 30)

Cast aluminum Dutch oven
45% promo code: 45KOLLEL (valid April 9 through April 22)
Touchless kitchen faucet
10% promo code: 10I8DPNE (valid April 9 through May 8)
Glass tumbler with lid and straw
40% promo code: 40FH9XBO (valid April 9 through April 15)
Stove gap covers
40% promo code: 40TKLAG5 (valid April 9 through May 8)

Water dispenser for 5-gallon bottle
50% promo code: 50MHGRKI (valid April 9 through April 16)
Baby and nursery
Baby teether toy
50% promo code: 50DEM8W8 (valid April 16 through April 20)
Baby proofing drawer locks
50% promo code: 509ZAW8X (valid April 12 through April 16)
Indoor and outdoor retractable baby gate
50% promo code: 50AA7DL4 (valid April 12 through April 16)

Home improvement
Candle warmer lamp with timer
40% promo code: 40M76UE6 (valid April 9 through April 15)
Wooden pegboard for organizing items
50% promo code: 50B25Q8V (valid April 8 through April 30)
Under cabinet lights with motion sensor
50% promo code: 503BYJWA (valid April 8 through April 14)
Galaxy LED projector
50% promo code: 50GTK8P6 (valid April 9 through April 16)

Flameless candle with remote control
40% promo code: 40TT53K4 (valid April 8 through April 14)
Shower razor holder
50% promo code: 50XDZ883 (valid April 9 through April 15)
Waterproof solar garden lights
20% promo code: 20GN9KJ9 (valid April 8 through April 16)
Car rim repair pens for scratches
50% promo code: 50ZPFDOO (valid April 8 through April 30)

Who hasn’t battled the annoying ear wax in your favorite earbuds? It’s so easy to find a tool for solving such an issue, as it is to locate items that are both useful and entertaining.
Bright Side gets commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. Reviews may have been edited for length and clarity.
Preview photo credit Matt / Amazon
Leave a Reply