My Halloween decorations kept getting stolen and ruined, but my world was turned upside down when I discovered who was behind it

I had just moved to a new town, hoping for a fresh start, but my neighbor Catherine made sure to ruin everything. She complained constantly and even stole my Halloween decorations. Determined to catch her in the act and get revenge, I set up a camera. What I discovered was far more shocking than I ever expected.

I had just finished setting up the Halloween decorations at my new house, feeling a little proud of how it all looked. Orange pumpkins, spider webs, and cute ghosts lined the front yard, ready for the kids who would come trick-or-treating.

It felt good to be settled after moving to this town just a month ago. My job was great, the house was cozy, and the town itself seemed charming—except for one thing: my neighbors.

Since the day I moved in, it felt like they had it out for me. It started with small things—comments about where I parked or how I didn’t trim my bushes the “right way.”

They would glance at me disapprovingly if I said “hi” in a way they didn’t like. It didn’t take long for the hostility to grow. One evening, they even called the police because I had my music on—at 7 p.m.! I couldn’t believe it.

The worst of them all was Catherine, who lived across the street. She was relentless, always coming over to complain about something. Once, she even stole my flowerpots, claiming they “didn’t fit the neighborhood vibe.”

I was beyond frustrated. Still, as I looked at my newly decorated house, I hoped at least this would be left alone. Just one thing that could bring some joy.

I’ve loved Halloween for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t just about the decorations or the candy; it reminded me of simpler times, warm childhood memories.

But this year, it felt different—darker. There was a hole in my heart where my dreams of having children used to be. It hurt to know I’d never create those special memories for my own kids.

Halloween, though, allowed me to heal a little, one bag of candy at a time. I poured it into a pumpkin, setting it out for the kids, and went inside, hoping for the best.

The next morning, my heart sank. All my decorations were gone. The only pumpkin left had been smashed, and the candy stolen. Tears welled up as I covered my mouth, overwhelmed by frustration and sadness. This was too much. I wasn’t going to let it slide. I knew who had done it, and I was determined to make her pay!

I stormed across the street and pounded on Catherine’s door, my anger bubbling over.

“Catherine! Open up! You’re a real witch!” I shouted, not caring who else heard.

After a few moments, the door flew open, and there she was, glaring at me.

“Have you lost your mind?” she yelled, hands on her hips.

“What did you do with my decorations?” I demanded, my voice shaking with fury.

“I didn’t touch your stupid decorations! Though they looked awful, if you ask me!” she shot back. “But I’m not ruining Halloween for the kids.”

“Just like you didn’t steal my flowerpots?” I screamed, stepping closer.

“Maeve, you’re crazy! You have no proof it was me!” she shouted, her face red. Then, with a loud slam, she shut the door in my face.

I stood there, shaking. “Witch!” I yelled at the closed door.

As I stood there, I realized that some of the neighbors had come outside, watching the whole scene. Their curious eyes were fixed on me, and I could already imagine the whispers behind my back.

They probably thought I was the crazy one now. I just wanted to do something nice for Halloween, and it had all been ruined. My throat tightened, and I could feel the tears building up again. Without another word, I turned and walked back home, my chest heavy with sobs.

Inside, I sat down, wiping my eyes. I couldn’t let this go. Halloween meant too much to me. I refused to let Catherine or anyone else destroy it. That evening, I made up my mind.

I went to the store, buying new decorations and candy. When I finished putting everything back up, I carefully placed a small camera among the decorations. This time, if she messed with them, I would have proof.

In the middle of the night, I woke up to a strange noise. My heart raced as I looked out the window. All my decorations were gone. Again. Anger bubbled up inside me as I quickly threw on my slippers and rushed outside.

The cool night air hit my face as I ran to grab the camera I had set up earlier. This time, I was sure I would catch Catherine in the act.

I hurried back inside and turned on the video. My eyes narrowed, ready to see Catherine, but to my shock, it wasn’t her. Instead, it was a boy—no older than 12—taking my decorations and candy. I stared at the screen, confused. I didn’t recognize him from the neighborhood.

Without thinking, I grabbed my coat and followed the direction the boy had gone. I passed house after house, but none of them seemed like his home.

I knew all the local kids, and he wasn’t one of them. Finally, I found myself standing in front of an old, abandoned house. A strange feeling came over me, urging me to go in.

Inside, it was dark and cold, the air damp and heavy. I pulled my cardigan tighter, my steps careful on the creaky wooden floors. Suddenly, I saw a faint light coming from a room. I walked in and froze.

There, huddled together, were two children—the boy from the video and a little girl, barely four years old. They were trembling, surrounded by my Halloween decorations.

“Please, don’t turn us in to the police!” the boy cried, his voice shaking. “My sister loves Halloween, but we don’t have any money. I didn’t want to steal, I swear! You just had the best decorations,” he said, his eyes wide with fear.

I stood there, staring at them. Two small kids in this awful, broken house. They looked so scared, and to be honest, I was scared too. The decorations didn’t matter anymore.

“Why are you here? Where are your parents?” I asked.

“We don’t have any,” the boy replied. “We ran away from our foster parents because they weren’t treating us right.”

I knelt down to their level, trying to understand. “What are your names?”

“I’m David, and this is my sister, Nicole,” he said, putting his arm around the little girl.

“My name is Maeve,” I told them, trying to sound reassuring. “You can’t stay here. It’s too cold. Come with me.”

David looked up at me, fear in his eyes. “Are you going to call the police?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m going to take you home,” I said, reaching out my hands to them both.

David and Nicole had been staying with me for several days now, and during that time, I had learned more about them through social services. It broke my heart to hear that their foster parents hadn’t even reported them missing.

How could anyone just forget about two children? I knew right then that there was no way they could go back. So, I filed the paperwork for temporary custody.

It was a bit of a process, but the social worker said the kids could stay with me even while we waited for everything to go through. That was a relief—I wasn’t ready to let them go.

The kids were amazing. At first, Nicole was so quiet, barely saying a word. She would just sit by herself, hugging her little stuffed bunny. But as the days went by, I saw her slowly start to relax.

She began to smile, laugh, and even talk a little. David, too, seemed happier. He helped me around the house, always asking if there was anything he could do.

Having them there made the house feel different—warmer, more alive. I hadn’t realized how empty it had felt before. It was as if David and Nicole had always been a part of my life.

In the evenings, I would read them bedtime stories. Every time, I felt tears welling up. I never thought my dream of having children would come true in such an unexpected way. But here we were, and it felt right.

On Halloween night, there was a knock at the door. Expecting trick-or-treaters, I smiled as I opened it, but instead of kids in costumes, I saw two police officers standing there.

“Can I help you, officers?” I asked, feeling my stomach drop a little.

“Your neighbor reported some strange screaming coming from your house,” one of the officers said. I followed his gaze across the street, where Catherine stood, arms crossed and a smug grin on her face. Of course, it was her.

Just then, a loud shout echoed from inside my house. I smiled sheepishly. “Oh, that. I’m showing the kids a scary movie for Halloween. You know, something fun for the night,” I explained, stepping aside. “Would you like to come in and check?”

The officers nodded and followed me inside. As we walked into the living room, one of them asked, “Are these your children?”

“Yes,” I said, the word slipping out naturally. “These are my children.”

It was the first time I had said it, but I realized it was true. In such a short time, they had become my family. I couldn’t imagine my life without them now.

The officers glanced at David and Nicole, who were sitting on the couch, eyes wide as they watched the scary movie. Every so often, they would pull the blanket over their heads, then peek out again.

The officers smiled, clearly seeing there was nothing wrong. “Have a good evening, ma’am,” they said, heading out the door.

As they walked out, I stepped onto the porch and waved at Catherine, who was still watching from across the street.

She looked furious, her face red with frustration. With a loud huff, she stomped her foot and marched back inside. I couldn’t help but smile to myself.

The next morning, I did what I had been thinking about for days—I applied to adopt David and Nicole. From that point on, I never spent another holiday alone. Every day was filled with laughter, love, and the warmth of family. I finally had what I had always dreamed of: I could call myself “Mom.”

The Outfit That Sparked a Wedding War: Did I Go Too Far…

Claire just wants to be the beautiful mother of the groom. But when she finds out that her daughter-in-law has her own ideas for the wedding, Claire decides to focus on her outfit. This leads to a fight between her and Alice on the wedding day. Alice claims that Claire ruined the wedding by taking her dream dress, while Claire thinks she did nothing wrong. Who is actually at fault?

All I wanted was to be the mother of the groom. That’s it. I just wanted to be a loving mother who adored her son more than anything. But this is the story of how my effort to make my son’s wedding perfect turned into a day we’d all rather forget.

When Mark introduced Alice to us, she was nothing like the person I expected him to fall in love with. Mark, my son, is a lawyer at a top firm, a job he got right after graduating from Stanford.

I’m going to be a lawyer, Mom,” he once told me when he was in high school and working on an essay about his future career.

“I can see that,” I said, making him breakfast as he studied.

“It’s to help fight injustices. For children, specifically,” he added, sipping his orange juice.

Mark had big dreams, and I knew he would always reach for the stars.

Alice was different from Mark. She was light and carefree, while Mark was serious and thoughtful. Alice was a self-taught coder who worked from their cozy apartment. Their personalities, views, and interests didn’t match.

But they made it work—and they were a sweet couple for the most part. But love can be blind.

When Mark proposed to Alice, we were invited to help surprise her.

Source: Pexels

“Please, Mom,” Mark said on the phone. “Alice isn’t close to her family, so having you and Dad there will show her she’s supported.”

“Of course, honey,” I replied, imagining their wedding.

I put aside my worries and offered to pay for the wedding. James and I had saved money for Mark’s education, but he had received scholarships that covered it all.

“We can use that money for the wedding, Claire,” my husband suggested at lunch the day after the proposal.

“It’s the best thing we can do for them,” I agreed. “This way they can save to move out of that small apartment. I know Mark wants a house with a garden for a dog.”

When we told Mark and Alice, I thought it would bring us closer. I didn’t have any daughters, so I saw this as my chance.

Source: Pexels

I could get to know Alice better—and it would be good for Mark to see that his wife and mother got along. But planning the wedding only highlighted our differences.

A few months into the planning, I met Alice at a coffee shop to discuss details. But we clashed over everything.

“I think roses are timeless,” I said, enjoying a slice of cake.

“They are, but they’re also overdone,” Alice replied, sipping her tea. “Mark and I want peonies.”

We went back and forth and couldn’t agree on anything.

“How about this?” I suggested. “You pick everything else, and just tell me the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses, so there won’t be any clashes.”

Source: Pexels

“They won’t be wearing green,” she said. “I’m leaning toward pink.”

I paid the bill, and we parted ways without resolving much.

Then one afternoon, Alice texted me.

“Hi Claire, just picking out my wedding dress with the girls! I wish you were here!”

She attached photos of her top five dress picks.

I knew Alice and I had different ideas about the wedding, but I wanted to be included in the big decisions. I wished she had invited me dress shopping.

“At least she’s sending you the top picks,” James said as he read the newspaper beside me.

“I know, but it’s not the same,” I replied.

Source: Pexels

“Do they look good?” he asked. “Can I see them?”

We scrolled through the dress photos together. They were fine, but nothing special.

None of them seemed to meet the standard I expected for my future daughter-in-law.

Alice’s favorite dress wasn’t what I expected.

I typed back, telling Alice it wasn’t the best choice and hoped my financial support would matter. James and I hadn’t set a budget; they had everything available to them.

“Why not consider the second one? It might be more flattering for you.”

James chuckled beside me.

“You’re overstepping,” he said.

Before I could respond, I got a message from Alice.

“Sorry, but I disagree. This is the dress I’m choosing.”

That night at dinner, as James plated our salmon, I shared my frustration.

Source: Pexels

“Alice isn’t even considering my opinion, and I’m paying for the dress!” I said.

James tried to mediate and even texted Mark to let him know how I felt.

“I think you should let them handle the wedding planning now,” he said. “Focus on yourself and your dress.”

Mark eventually convinced Alice to wear the dress I preferred.

I had to admit, it was the easier option, and I hadn’t had time to shop for my dress before that.

So, I visited a few boutiques and found my perfect dress. It was emerald green, which I knew would highlight my eyes.

“That’s beautiful,” James said when I tried it on for him.

I felt different. I no longer felt like the sidelined mother of the groom. Instead, I felt beautiful and confident every time I thought of the dress.

Source: Pexels

As the wedding week approached, James and I made sure to be present at all the events Mark and Alice needed us to attend, including the rehearsal dinner, where we raised our glasses to toast them.

“All sorted, Mom?” Mark asked me. “Your dress and everything?”

I smiled at my son. Even with the tension between Alice and me, he always checked in on me.

“Of course,” I replied. “I’m ready to celebrate you and Alice.”

On the morning of the wedding, I put on my green dress and did my makeup. It was everything I had wanted to look like for my son’s wedding—elegant and classy.

When I arrived at the venue, the atmosphere was thick with whispers. I ignored them, thinking everyone was just surprised to see me in something different.

Source: Pexels

I went straight to the bride’s dressing room, hoping to see Alice and compliment her before she walked down the aisle.

When I opened the door, Alice looked up, and her joyful expression turned into one of devastation. She looked me up and down and then burst into tears.

“Why did you do this to me, Claire?” she sobbed, her voice choked with emotion.

Confused, I stepped into the room and closed the door.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Your dress!” she exclaimed.

“What about it?” I asked, second-guessing everything.

“It’s my dream wedding dress, just in another color,” she said, nearly shouting.

I was taken aback.

“Alice, honestly,” I said. “I didn’t realize—they look so different in color.”

But Alice wasn’t listening. She sat on the couch, her head in her hands.

Source: Pexels

“How could you?” she cried. “You’ve made this day about you! Just because we didn’t take any of your suggestions!”

Mark, hearing the commotion from his dressing room, rushed in.

“Mom? What’s going on?” he asked, looking between us for an explanation.

Trying to calm the situation, I explained slowly.

“I didn’t see the resemblance, Mark,” I said. “I truly just loved the dress, and I thought—”

Alice stood up and marched toward Mark.

“No!” she shouted. “You thought you’d show me what I could’ve had, but in green. Isn’t that it?”

“Mom, please,” Mark said. “Let’s just try to get through the day. Please, for me.”

I agreed and left the dressing room, wanting to find James and sit quietly until the day was over.

Source: Pexels

I knew Alice and I were on a thin line, but I didn’t expect her to shout at me like that.

Naturally, I was upset, but I didn’t want to ruin their day any more.

Looking back, maybe I should have been more open to Alice’s wishes. It was her day after all, not just mine to control. The question of whether I was wrong weighs heavily on me.

Yes, in trying to impose my vision, I may have lost sight of what truly mattered—Alice’s happiness and Mark’s peace on their special day.

Was I wrong for what I did?

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