At 73, life in our quiet neighborhood had always been peaceful, with just the right amount of small-town drama. But nothing prepared me for the Halloween chaos that unfolded last year. Let me introduce myself—I’m Wendy, a retired schoolteacher and proud grandmother who loves decorating for the holidays, especially Halloween. Little did I know, my spooky decorations would stir up a neighborhood feud, leading to an unexpected twist.

It all started one crisp October afternoon. I was outside, setting up my Halloween decorations as I had done for the past 30 years. The tombstones, skeletons, and cotton cobwebs were my way of bringing the Halloween spirit to our corner of Whisperwood Lane. I was halfway through arranging a skeleton by my porch when I heard the unmistakable shrill voice of my neighbor, Irene.

“Wendy! What on earth are you doing?” Irene marched up to me, hands on her hips, looking as if I had just committed a heinous crime