Sometimes, you reach a point where you have to stand your ground, and that’s exactly what happened to me. This story is about how I went from being the laid-back neighbor to someone who served up a slice of justice with a little extra something on the side.
My name’s Mandy, and let me start by saying that I’m not one to hold grudges. I’m a firm believer in “live and let live,” the kind of person who prefers to keep the peace and not sweat the small stuff.
I live in a small, quiet suburban neighborhood. You know the kind, where everyone waves at each other in the morning and you can leave your doors unlocked without a second thought. It’s the perfect place to raise my two kids.
Our home has a charming little garden out front, complete with a white picket fence—the whole package, really. But as idyllic as it sounds, even paradise can have a few thorns.
The Thompsons — John and Sarah — moved in next door about a year ago. They seemed nice enough at first. They were in their early 40s, two big dogs named Max and Daisy, and had no kids. We exchanged pleasantries, borrowed a cup of sugar here and there, and I even gave them some of my homemade chocolate chip cookies as a welcome gift.
You know, just your typical neighborly stuff. But after a few months, things started to change, and not for the better.
Those dogs quickly became the bane of my existence. Don’t get me wrong, I love animals, but these dogs had a habit that was driving me up the wall. They’d do their business right at the edge of their yard, but they didn’t stop there. No, the Thompsons had devised a little system.
They’d wait until they thought no one was looking, scoop up the mess, and then—get this—they’d toss it right over the fence into my garden. It started off as an occasional thing, but before long, I was finding piles of dog crap in my flower beds nearly every other day.
At first, I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. Who throws dog poop over a fence on purpose, right? I figured it had to be some kind of accident. So, I decided to address the issue directly, hoping a friendly chat would solve the problem.
One afternoon, as John and I were both out in our yards, I decided to bring it up.
“Hey, John,” I said with a smile, trying to keep things light, “I’ve noticed some dog poop in my garden lately. I think it might be from Max or Daisy. Could you maybe keep an eye on them when they’re outside?”
John turned to me, his face breaking into a tight-lipped smile, the kind that doesn’t quite reach the eyes. “Oh, I’m sure it’s not them. Maybe it’s your kids,” he said with a slight smirk, as if he were mocking me.
I was taken aback. My kids? Really? I wanted to argue, but I could see that John wasn’t in the mood to admit anything. I didn’t want to escalate things into a shouting match with my neighbor, so I decided to let it go—for the moment, at least.
But I knew I couldn’t just let this slide. They weren’t going to stop unless I did something about it, and confronting them directly hadn’t worked. So, I decided it was time for something a little more… creative. Something subtle, yet effective.
A plan started to form in my mind, and the more I thought about it, the more deliciously petty it seemed. If they were going to keep throwing their dogs’ crap into my yard, I was going to give them a taste of their own medicine—literally.
Now, I should mention that I’ve always been a pretty good baker. My chocolate chip cookies are legendary around here, so I figured it was time to put that reputation to good use. The plan was simple: I’d bake a batch of cookies, but with a little twist.
The next day, I gathered my supplies—flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and a little something extra. I’m not proud of what I did next, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I went out to my garden, put on a pair of gloves, and scooped up some of the offending material, sealing it in a bag.
Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify. I wasn’t about to use actual dog poop in my baking. But I needed something that would get the message across.
Instead, I headed to the pet store and picked up a bag of the smelliest dog treats I could find. These little brown nuggets looked just like chocolate chips, but they had a distinctly unpleasant odor. Perfect. I mixed them in with the real chocolate chips, baked up a fresh batch of cookies, and let them cool.
As the cookies baked, the scent wafted through my kitchen. The aroma of chocolate mixed with the pungent smell of dog treats created an odd, unsettling combination. It wasn’t pleasant, but it was exactly what I needed. I could barely stomach it, but I pushed through, knowing the Thompsons were about to get a taste of their own medicine.
Once the cookies had cooled, I carefully packed them into a shiny, decorative tin. To add a final touch, I wrote a note in my best handwriting:
“To the best neighbors, enjoy these fresh-baked cookies! – The Wilsons”
I chuckled to myself as I imagined their reaction, but I wasn’t done yet. Timing was everything. The next day, I waited patiently until I saw Mrs. Thompson head out, likely on one of her daily errands. With the coast clear, I darted across our lawns and stealthily placed the tin of cookies on their porch. Then, I retreated to my house, positioning myself near the window so I could observe the aftermath.
It didn’t take long for the chaos to begin. That evening, while watering my garden, I heard a commotion erupt from the Thompson household. The dogs were barking like mad, their deep barks echoing through the quiet neighborhood. Amid the noise, I caught the unmistakable sound of Mr. Thompson shouting, “What the hell is wrong with these cookies?!”
I couldn’t resist the grin that spread across my face. This was better than I’d imagined. I knew they’d discover that something was off, but I hadn’t anticipated just how quickly it would all unfold.
Several hours later, I overheard the Thompsons having a heated discussion in their backyard. Their voices were low, but they carried clearly across the fence.
“Those Wilsons gave us some kind of sick prank cookies!” Mrs. Thompson hissed, her voice filled with anger and embarrassment.
“They must’ve known about the poop,” Mr. Thompson replied, his tone a mix of frustration and guilt. “What are we going to do?”
“Just keep quiet,” she said, her voice firm. “We don’t want the whole neighborhood knowing we’ve been throwing dog crap over the fence.”
I nearly dropped my watering can. There it was—the confirmation I had been waiting for. They were guilty, and they knew it. And now, they realized that I knew too.
But here’s the best part: a few days later, something miraculous happened. The dog poop stopped appearing in my yard. It was as if by magic. My little act of revenge had worked, and I couldn’t have been more pleased.
Yet, the story didn’t end there. A few weeks later, our neighborhood hosted a BBQ, and the Thompsons showed up. They seemed subdued, keeping mostly to themselves and avoiding eye contact with me. But I wasn’t about to let them off the hook that easily.
“Hey, John! Sarah!” I called out cheerfully, waving them over with a plate of fresh cookies in hand. “I’ve got some more cookies for the party. Want to try one?”
Their faces went pale as they caught sight of the cookies. They mumbled something about being full and quickly excused themselves, practically fleeing in the opposite direction. I chuckled to myself as I watched them scurry away. The rest of the neighbors happily devoured the cookies, unaware of the inside joke between me and the Thompsons.
As the evening wore on, I overheard some of the neighbors chatting about the Thompsons.
“Have you noticed how quiet their dogs have been lately?” one neighbor asked.
“Yeah, and their yard’s been spotless,” another added.
It seemed my little act of creative revenge had not only solved my problem but had also reformed the Thompsons’ behavior. They were now the model neighbors, all thanks to a little ingenuity and a lot of nerve.
A History of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Playful Feud — As the Wolverine Actor Turns 56 Today!
The’ Deadpool & Wolverine’ costars and musketeers have kept up their funny faux feud over the times
Hugh Jackman turns 56 moment, and what better way to celebrate than to take a walk down memory lane and examine the history of his” feud” with pal Ryan Reynolds?
Way before they teamed up to make Deadpool & Wolverine, Jackman revealed the onsets of their frequently-hysterical dynamic in a 2020 interview with The Daily Beast.
” It’s gone back so long now God, this is a classic sign where your feud has gone too long, where you do not indeed know why or how it started,” he said.
More lately, when they saw one another on the set of Deadpool & Wolverine, “ You came over and you went,’ Steve!'” Jackman recalled in a PEOPLE cover story, in which he and Reynolds, 47, interview one another about their 17- time fellowship. Added Reynolds playfully, “ Greg? No, don’t tell me.”
As we celebrate the actor who perfected the part of Wolverine to a tee, then’s a timeline of the ongoing feud and badinage between Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds.
1. Scarlett Johansson might have had an unwitting hand in starting it.
Jackman told The Daily Beast it was Scarlett Johansson who might have started the feud, though he admitted to having trouble flashing back the origins at first.
The actor explained how he started teasing Reynolds over his recent( at the time) marriage to Johansson, 39. The two were married from 2008 to 2011 before Reynolds wed now- woman
Blake Lively in 2012.
“ I used to ream him because I was veritably close musketeers with Scarlett, and Scarlett had just married Ryan, so when he came on set I was like, ‘ Hey, you more be on your stylish behavior then, confidante, because I’m watching,’ and we started roasting each other that way, and also it all escalated with the Deadpool thing and him calling me out, and trying to manipulate me through social media to do what he wanted, ” Jackman explained.
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He putatively made their feud public in 2015 when he posted a videotape on his Instagram of Reynolds impersonating him — Australian accentuation and all — in his Deadpool makeup.
2. The feud originally substantially concentrated on Reynolds’ desire to make a Deadpool/ Wolverine film.
Since that time, Jackman and Reynolds, who met on the set of 2009’sX-Men Origins Wolverine, have continued their public trolling and set up ways to poke fun at one other on social media.
In January 2017, Reynolds made it clear he wanted to make a mashup movie featuring his Deadpool character with Jackman’s Wolverine.
Unfortunately for the Free Guy actor, Jackman hung up his Wolverine claws just months latterly in March with the release of Logan, his putatively final incursion as the ridiculous- book mutant. But that didn’t stop Reynolds, whose Deadpool & Wolverine dreams are now coming true.
“ I’ve no idea if I can change his mind, ” Reynolds told Variety of Jackman at the time. “ It’s the followership I would simply exploit that relationship to get Hugh back for another bone. ”
He echoed his statements to Entertainment Weekly latterly, saying, “ What we’re gonna have to do is move Hugh. However, I’m going to need to do what I can to get my internet musketeers back on board to help rally another cause down the line, If anything. ”
As Jackman told Variety, “ I’m scrupling. I could completely see how that’s the perfect fit. But the timing may be wrong. ”
3. Their capers have gauged times and included Christmases, birthdays and live performances.
Jackman and Reynolds have combed each other during the leaves and on each other’s birthdays.
Playing up on their hypercritically negative relationship in April 2018, Jackman tried to record a birthday communication for a addict on Twitter, only to be intruded by Reynolds’ Deadpool. As the actor started to record his well- wishes, Reynolds began singing in the background.
“ When you’re trying to record a sincere birthday communication. but are intruded by the least topmost showman, ” Jackman wrote on Twitter.
detracted by the song, he condemned the camera over to show Reynolds lying on a hostel bed in his full Deadpool costume, begirding “ hereafter” from Annie.
“ Don’t give him too important attention, ” Jackman said in the clip.
For Reynolds’ 42nd birthday, the brace had another ridiculous exchange on social media. Given the nature of their relationship, Jackman naturally celebrated his friend’s big day by trolling him.
“ Because I’m told that I AM THE NICEST joe and you’re NOT.@VancityReynolds I’ll let you clinch me. Just this formerly. On your birthday, ” he wrote alongside a picture of the brace embracing each other.
Reynolds snappily responded with a false claim. “ This man is a monster, ” he wrote. “ He’s not indeed from Australia. He’s from Milwaukee. ”
4. The brace putatively called a armistice.
In February 2019, Reynolds and Jackman announced on their respective social- media accounts that their friendly feud had officially come to an end.
As a way to mend their “ broken relationship, ” the two actors revealed their plans to make ads for each other’s companies — Reynolds’ Aviation Gin, Jackman’s Laughing Man Coffee — and, of course, each expected to out- do the other.
“ Official truce with@realhughjackman! ” Reynolds wrote alongside a black- and- white snapshot of the pair smiling as they shook hands. “ As a gesture of goodwill, I’m gonna make a beautiful ad for his company, Laughing Man Coffee. Can’t wait! ”
Jackman shared the same photo, captioning it, “ Official truce! I’m going to make the most amazing ad for Aviation Gin. And, look forward to seeing what@vancityreynolds comes up with in return. ”
Reynolds laterre-posted the same photo on his Instagram Stories from another user but it was edited to include a grenade in their hands, a pin from the explosive weapon in Reynolds’ mouth, and Jackman’s Wolverine claw behind his back in the mirror.
The spoof shot was captioned by Reynolds, “ Look closely. ”
5. They reignited their feud just months later.
It appears the two just could n’t stay away. That August, Reynolds and Jackman reignited the feud when the latter injured his hand during his one- man tour The Man. The Music. The Show.
“ The first time I’ve played#wolverine and, actually bled. Clearly, it’s@vancityreynolds fault, ” Jackman wrote over an image of a scratch on his knuckle. The bit reportedly included jokes about Reynolds and Jackman playing Wolverine.
Reynolds commented, “ I just do n’t think you’ve been practicing enough. ”
In 2020, Jackman wished his now- ex, Deborra- lee Jackman, a happy 24th anniversary in a heartfelt social- media communication.
“ These 24 times have been the stylish of my life! And, as far as I can see, we keep getting better, ” the actor identified a fogy image of himself and Deborra- lee, 68. “ I love you Debs with every fiber of my soul. Happy anniversary.# 24 ″
Reynolds used the anniversary post as an occasion to continue his ridiculous feud with Jackman. “ Hang in there, Deb, ” he teased in the commentary section on Instagram.
6. The jokes have expanded to include footwear.
Back in October 2021, Reynolds marked Jackman’s 53rd birthday by trolling theX-Men actor with a TikTok videotape of his socks which were published with Jackman’s face on them.
” Look I do not tell you how to celebrate Hugh Jackman’s birthday. So do not tell me,” he wrote, adding in the caption,” Socks to be Hugh.”
Jackman reposted Reynolds’ TikTok on his Instagram runner and addressed it in a videotape of his own, in which he thanked musketeers and suckers for their birthday wishes.
” I know there is been a lot of dispatches about Ryan’s post — him wearing socks with my face on them and wondering where you can get them,” the actor added, joking,” You can not get them anywhere because he made them himself, he stitched them himself.”
Jackman continued,” I know, it’s just really sad. But anyway, I guess you could ask him, he might darn you a brace or give you the bones he is been wearing.”
7. The actors have given true props to one another but the jokes are no way far out.
Jackman said that” a lot of people come up to” him talking about Reynolds.
” And I say,’ Shut up, I am not interested,'” he added, to which Reynolds responded with a laugh,” That tracks.”
But in soberness, Jackman told Reynolds that he believes him speaking about his experience with anxiety,” takes courage,” and has” helped a lot of people.”
And for Reynolds, the key to their fellowship, in part, is that they” calculate on each other for the real kind of advice that you want.”
8. Their friendly feud might have to do with Sexiest Man Alive.
During a common appearance on The View to promote Deadpool & Wolverine, the former Sexiest Man Alive titleholders recreated their covers after panelist Sara Haines suggested their beef might involve” contending covers.”
” Do not bring it up. We have done a lot of remedy,” Jackman fitted . still, he added that when the brace catch up, they” assume the disguise.”
” What am I doing there?” Reynolds asked of his cover before trying to casually lean back.” That is not comfortable.”
When John Legend was blazoned as PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2019, Jackman complimented the songster with a silly Instagram videotape exhibiting his own cover to a dismissive Reynolds.
” 99 of the time, People Magazine gets it right,” Jackman wrote in the caption before playfully dissing Reynolds.” But a word of caution. There’s the 1. exhibition A.”
9. They indeed beef in promotional material outside of Deadpool & Wolverine.
When Jackman took to social media to advertise a series of 12 musicales, named” From New York, with Love,” Reynolds naturally had to join him after their lengthy press stint.
Sitting on the same settee Reynolds used to reveal Jackman’s return as Wolverine, The Greatest Showman star unveiled his Radio City Music Hall shows before asking Reynolds if he wanted to come.
The Deadpool actor asked if he’d be a part of Jackman’s show, to which the star jokingly replied,” Absolutely!” to the camera, as he quietly signaled else.
” This is my time,” he rumored.
Following a loud montage of Jackman explaining his show and Reynolds putatively offering suggestions, Reynolds concluded,” I am not going to be in it?”
” On stage, no. But in my heart, yeah,” Jackman answered, stipulating that he needs his friend in the followership —( maybe indeed further down) and not in the factual show.
” It’s going to be the most amazing tech trial you have ever, ever been to,” Jackman joked.
” I have won the fellowship lottery,” Reynolds said with an undecided laugh.
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