My packages kept vanishing, and my sweet neighbor, Linda, always seemed to “find” them just in time. Patience was wearing thin, but when my limited-edition Christmas ornament disappeared, I decided enough was enough. I planned a special holiday “gift” for Linda, one she’d never forget.
After relocating to a peaceful neighborhood with my young son following a tough divorce, I was looking forward to a fresh start. The house was ideal, the area seemed safe, and the neighbors, including Linda, initially appeared friendly. On our moving day, Linda welcomed us with cookies and offered to help whenever needed, even suggesting she could keep an eye on any packages delivered when I wasn’t home.
At first, I appreciated her helpfulness, especially when a package went missing, and Linda miraculously found it at her house, mistakenly opened. However, as more deliveries began disappearing, only to be “recovered” by Linda, always opened, my gratitude turned to suspicion. It became clear that Linda’s initial kindness was a facade covering her penchant for snooping through my belongings.
The situation escalated when I ordered a unique Christmas ornament as a gift for my mother. According to the delivery status, it had arrived, but once again, it was nowhere to be found. Frustrated and determined to resolve the matter, I approached Linda, who, unsurprisingly, produced the “misdelivered” ornament from her house, already unwrapped.
Resolved to teach Linda a memorable lesson, I concocted a plan involving a harmless but startling glitter bomb. I ordered a spring-loaded box filled with glitter, designed to burst open upon unwrapping. Inside, I included a note: “Surprise! Here’s a special gift just for you. Please stop taking my packages. Next time, it could be the police delivering.”
I wrapped the glitter bomb in festive paper and made sure it was conspicuously placed on my porch. It didn’t take long for Linda to take the bait. The following day, as I discreetly watched from my window, she snatched the package off my porch and hurried back to her house.
The result was explosive and exactly as I’d hoped. The next morning, Linda emerged from her house covered in glitter, looking more like a holiday decoration than a neighbor caught in the act. Furious, she stormed over to confront me, glitter trailing behind her like a shiny snail’s path.
As Linda ranted, I calmly explained that if she didn’t appreciate my special delivery, perhaps she shouldn’t take things that didn’t belong to her. The incident humiliated Linda enough to halt her package thefts, and it also emboldened other neighbors to speak out about their own missing parcels.
From then on, not only did my deliveries stay put, but the neighborhood also became more vigilant, ensuring that our small community remained a place where everyone could truly enjoy the holiday spirit—free from the worry of disappearing gifts. As for Linda, she learned that sometimes curiosity sparkles a lot more than she bargained for.