Pacing With Frustration
Tommy?s anger surged as he paced through the backyard, his fists clenched in frustration. The constant harassment had pushed him to his breaking point, and he was determined not to let it slide any longer.
He stopped briefly, the weight of his thoughts sinking in. In his rage, he had come up with a plan that felt right in the moment, but doubt crept in. Was he going too far? After a moment of hesitation, he shrugged it off. She had crossed a line, and now, there would be consequences.
Tommy Mogan
Tommy Mogan was known for his kind and gentle nature, a man whose friends and family often teased that he couldn?t harm a soul. His peaceful demeanor was something everyone admired, and he had built a reputation for being soft-hearted and calm.
That all changed one fateful Monday morning. The day began like any other he woke up at 6 A.M., prepared for work by 8, and stepped out, blissfully unaware of the shocking event that had unfolded overnight. He never anticipated the attack that would shatter his world.
Standing By The Kitchen Sink
Tommy was standing by the kitchen sink, rinsing his coffee cup, when he noticed something strange through the window. An elderly couple was walking past his house, and at first, he didn?t think much of it. He assumed they were simply admiring the yard he had worked so hard to perfect.
But as he watched them, something felt off. The couple wasn?t just glancing at the garden they were staring intently, almost too closely. It struck him as odd, but he brushed it off, trying to shake the uneasy feeling that had begun to settle in.
Without Any Shame
The elderly couple strolled by, their eyes fixed on Tommy?s yard without any shame. Tommy didn't mind; in fact, it made him feel good. But then, something caught his attention.
The woman halted and pointed at something in his yard. She then quickly covered her mouth with her hand, as if shocked. Tommy stood there, puzzled, wondering what had startled her. But before he could dwell on it, they continued walking, and the moment slipped from his mind.
On His Way To Work
As he stepped outside on his way to work, he noticed the jogger approaching down the road. She was headed straight toward his house, but as she neared, something unusual happened. She suddenly stopped, her gaze fixed on something behind him.
He watched in confusion as her expression shifted from curiosity to sheer horror. After a tense moment, she quickly resumed her jog, continuing down the road without a word. The unsettling reaction lingered in his mind as he wondered what had caused such a sudden and drastic change in her demeanor.
Odd Looks
Tommy noticed the odd looks from his neighbors but couldn?t stop to figure out why. Pressed for time, he tossed his things into his car, buckled up, and hit the road, determined to get to work.
With a hectic day ahead, he already felt the weight of his responsibilities. Little did he know, though, that what awaited him would make his workload seem trivial in comparison.
Carefully Backed Out
He carefully backed out of his driveway, eyes scanning the rearview and side mirrors. Mornings meant kids biking to school, and he knew he needed to stay alert to avoid any accidents with his truck.
As he reached the street, he paused and glanced back toward his yard. That?s when he spotted it. A wave of anger surged through him, sharp and sudden, heating his face as he took in the scene.
His Dream
As a struggling student, Tommy Mogan always dreamed of having a big family and living in the suburbs. Just a few months after graduation, he met the perfect woman, and they began dating right away.
As years passed, Tommy and Linda built a life together. The first few years were tough, but eventually, they were able to move to the suburbs and start a family.
The Suburbs
They were living in a lovely neighborhood in Rock Springs, Wyoming when Linda revealed the big news. She was pregnant with their first child, and it was a boy.
Tommy was over the moon. He?d always wanted to be a father, especially to a boy. He couldn?t wait to raise him. He wanted to teach him how to ride a bike and how to play basketball. Before they knew it, Joshua was born.
Joshua
Over the years, they had two more children, and they were both girls. But as time passed, Tommy noticed something about his only son. You see, Joshua wasn?t like the other boys his age.
He didn?t care about monster trucks or playing basketball. He was far more interested in playing with his sisters? toys. Tommy had his suspicions, but it wasn?t until Joshua was seventeen years old that he finally told his parents.
The Truth
The boy was shaking, his palms sweaty as he stood before his parents and two younger sisters. He wondered how his parents would react if he told them the truth. He was terrified.
?I?m just going to come out and say it,? He spoke in a shaky voice, ?I?m gay,? He expected his parents? reaction to be the worst, but he was beyond surprised when they stood up and hugged him.
Calm
?Oh honey, we already knew that,? His mother said, giving him a big hug. He couldn?t believe how calm they were, and when he turned to Tommy, his father had a massive smile on his face.
?We?ve always told you that we love you no matter what, and we mean it. I won?t let anything or anyone hurt you for being the way you are. I am proud of you, son,? Tommy said, and he meant every word. But one Monday morning, something terrible happened.
An Attack
Tommy Mogan had always been a gentle soul. His friends and family often joked and said he could never hurt a fly, but that all changed that Monday morning. You see, someone in his neighborhood decided to attack his family.
This day was supposed to be like any other. He awoke at 6 A.M. and was ready for work by 8, completely unaware of what had happened overnight. He never saw the attack coming.
The First Sign
He was in the kitchen when he spotted the first sign that something was wrong. Tommy stood by his kitchen sink, rinsing his cup of coffee when he looked through the window and noticed an old couple walking past
At first, he didn?t think much of the fact that they were staring at his yard. He?d put a lot of work into it lately, and he assumed they were admiring it. But then he noticed something.
Her Reaction
As they walked past, the old man and woman stared into his yard shamelessly. But Tommy didn?t mind, it flattered him. But then, he noticed it. ?What the heck?? He questioned, earning a few glances from his children.
The old woman paused in her steps and pointed into his yard. Then, she raised a hand and covered her mouth. Tommy was confused. What did she see that surprised her so much? But soon, they walked off, and he forgot about it.
Helping His Wife
He continued with his early morning tasks by helping his wife prepare school lunches for their children. Tommy would usually leave the house first, then his wife would take their children to school.
Joshua was eating a bowl of cereal, unaware of what was happening outside. But soon, they would all face the horrible truth.
Reminded
It wasn?t until a few minutes later that he was reminded of the old woman?s strange reaction. He was leaving his house, on his way to work when he spotted the jogger down the road.
She was headed straight for his house but as she was about to pass, she stopped. She was looking at something behind him. Again, he watched as her face twisted in horror before she continued on her journey down the road.
No Time To Waste
Tommy was confused by the strange reactions of his neighbors, but he had no time to waste. He had to get to work. He quickly threw his things into his car and strapped himself into the driver?s seat.
It was going to be a busy day at the office, and he was dreading it already. But he had no idea that his day was about to get a thousand times worse.
Leaving Home
Tommy quickly reversed out of the driveway, slightly puzzled by what he had witnessed that morning. Why were people staring and pointing? Surely his yard didn?t look that good.
He made it to the end of his driveway, and just as he was about to drive off, he glanced into his yard. That?s when he saw it. His heart filled with dread as he stared at the sign someone had left in his backyard. Were his eyes deceiving him?
Motionless
It felt like his entire world had come crashing down around him as he sat motionless behind the steering wheel of his car. Someone had attacked the person he loved most in the world in the most humiliating way.
His wife and children would leave the house at any second, and he had to fix this before they could come out and see it.
Parking His Truck
He parked his car right there in the street, his blood boiling in his veins. What on earth was going on? He looked around him, noticing how many people were standing in the streets, staring at the sign in his yard.
Who could?ve done this to his family? It was a foul, horrible sign. Why would anyone put that in his yard?
He Didn?t Understand It
Tommy and his family generally got along with all of their neighbors, he couldn?t understand why anyone would attack them in this way. How could they do this to a teenager?
His neighbors could see the fury burning behind his eyes as he glanced around himself. ?Who did this? Was it one of you?? He called out, but no one spoke up. Some showed sympathy while others took pictures of the disgusting sign.
Hate
Tommy?s only goal was to protect his family, but overnight, someone had decided to do the unthinkable. He felt like he had to bite back tears just thinking about it.
His son was a good, young man, and he didn?t deserve the hate he received from the rest of the world. He?d gotten bullied at school, and now, it was happening at home too. Tommy was going to get his revenge.
Watching Them
People were laughing and chattering amongst themselves as he killed the ignition and stepped out of his truck. He glanced around at his neighbors, but who on earth could have done this?
He glanced at the family across the street, noticing the pity in the woman?s face. It couldn?t have been them, they were lovely people who adored Tommy and his family. The mother, Natasha, began approaching.
Support
?Tommy, I am so sorry,? She said the second she reached him on the sidewalk. With so many lovely people in their neighborhood, he couldn?t believe that anyone would do something like this.
?I can?t believe this. Linda is going to be devastated. I don?t even want to think about Joshua?s reaction,? He spoke in a shaky voice, tears pinching at his eyes.
Close Friends
Natasha placed a supportive hand on Tommy?s shoulder. Their families were quite close, and she was no stranger to the struggles their son had to deal with.
?Who do you think could?ve done something like this?? Tommy asked his dear friend. She didn?t say anything, but her eyes spoke for her as she glanced at something across the street.
The SUV
Tommy turned to see what she was looking at, and as soon as he did, his blood ran cold.
That?s when he spotted the large black SUV on the corner of the street. As he looked into it, he could see the woman inside, laughing as she stared right back at him. Suddenly, it all made sense.
Doing Something Drastic
Tommy, just like any father, would protect his son and his family no matter what lengths he had to go to. He didn?t want anyone jeopardizing the life that he had carved out and worked so hard to create.
His eyes flickered with anger as he stared at the black car. How could someone be this cruel? The father was going to do something irrational.
Tried To Be Reasoned With
Natasha saw what Tommy was going to do and tried to reason with him, ?Stop it! I know what you?re going to do, and it?s not the reasonable thing to do. You?re acting out of passion.?
Tommy knew that Natasha was right, but he couldn?t let her get away with this. He had to do what he had to do, and no one else would understand.
Marching Off
Even though Natahsa?s words rang out in Tommy?s mind, he started marching forward as if his body had a mind of his own. He had no reason left in his mind, and it was apparent by the way his muscles bulged.
He was going to be on his way to the SUV, and no one would be able to change his mind. But the scariest thing was what he thought he might do when he got there.
Unsure
He was unsure if this was a good idea, but regardless of that fact, he was going to do it anyway. The woman was still laughing at his reaction to the sign. Clearly, she didn?t know who she was messing with.
But Tommy was more than happy to teach the woman the error of her ways. He wanted to show her the mistake she?d made.
Getting Closer
One foot after the other, Tommy got closer. He had now made it off of his lawn and onto the pavement. The black SUV was parked across the street where the woman thought she would be safe.
But she had no idea that he would go all over to her to confront her. He was going to make sure she learned a lesson.
What He Would Do
Tommy?s mind raced as he walked. He was thinking about all of the things he would do to the woman when he got there. No one insulted his son and family like that. They were bigots for not understanding their way of life.
He settled on confronting them for now. He didn?t want to do anything that would get him arrested. But he did want to scare her.
A Change In Demeanor
As Tommy got close, flames burning behind his eyes and red taking over his complexion, the woman?s laughing suddenly died down. She wasn?t laughing at him anymore. In fact, her face took on a new emotion.
She went from laughing a second ago to looking genuinely afraid. It seemed that Tommy was calling her bluff.
Nowhere To Run
As Tommy got halfway across the street, the neighbor quickly tried starting her car. But as if fortune favored Tommy, the engine wouldn?t start. Panic crept across her face as she frantically tried again.
But her repeated attempts to start the car created a familiar sound that Tommy was familiar with. She had flooded her engine.
One Last Resort
This meant that the woman really wouldn?t be able to run anywhere now. Whether she liked it or not, Tommy was coming for her, and he would make sure she paid for what she had done.
As a last-ditch effort, the woman quickly started winding up her window - thinking that a sheet of glass would protect her against a father?s rage.
Too Close For Comfort
As Tommy got too close for comfort, the woman rested back against her seat, thinking that he wouldn?t be able to get her. He got to the window, expecting her to be a rational adult and talk to him.
But the woman didn?t seem to like the situation that she was in now. She looked straight ahead as he rapped his knuckles on the glass.
Ignoring Him
The woman was now ignoring Tommy, refusing to even acknowledge his existence when she was laughing at him a moment ago. This enraged Tommy more than anything before.
He wasn?t going to actually hurt her. But he wanted to confront her. She wasn?t letting this happen. He knew he couldn?t do much more, but he was glad he had scared her.
Recognition
That?s when Tommy made a realization. He recognized the woman that was now hiding from him. She was one of the neighbors in the area. He had seen the car a few times in the neighborhood.
But why would she do this when they had little to nothing to do with each other? But the woman had one final trick.
Flashing Her Phone
The woman, terrified of how close Tommy was to her decided to suddenly spring into action. She looked down at her lap and grabbed her phone. Tommy was confused at first.
But then it all made sense when the woman put her phone against the window so he could see what she was doing. She had 911 dialed. Tommy didn?t have time for this.
Giving Up
Tommy stared at her with a baffled look. Would she tell them she was harassing her when she put up the sign? Then he remembered that he had little to no evidence of what she had done.
It was better to stand down for now. But he had no idea what kind of evil he was dealing with. He decided to walk back to his neighbor on the lawn. But the woman wasn?t done.
New Found Courage
Tommy knew that he would find another way of dealing with the woman. But he would have to be patient. He got back to Natasha, who looked sympathetic to his plight. But that?s when he heard her again.
He whipped around and saw that her window was down again. She suddenly had newfound courage now that he wasn?t up in her face.
Stuck Up
Maggie Smith lived a few houses down, and she and Tommy had never gotten along. She was conservative and stuck up, and she didn?t agree with the way Tommy and Linda raised their children.
?You have got to be kidding me,? Tommy muttered to himself. Natasha frowned sadly and gave his shoulder another squeeze before making her way back to her lawn.
Losing It
Maggie noticed Tommy?s eyes on her. If looks could kill, Maggie would?ve been a pile of ashes in the front seat of her car. Tommy didn?t think that even she could stoop so low. Who did she think she was?
Noticing the look on his face, she stepped out of her car and began making her way over. Tommy was just seconds away from losing it. He was beyond angry.
They Were Watching
?What is wrong with you?? He shouted at the top of his lungs, ?Why on earth would you do this?? Slowly, more neighbors walked into the street and stared at the pair as they yelled at one another.
?You have no proof that I had anything to do with this,? She smirked cockily. Tommy was only growing more furious. This was an attack on his family.
Her Intentions
Her response only made him a thousand times angrier. Of course, she would lie about it too. ?If you?re going to do something this evil, at least have the decency to admit to it,? He shouted into her face.
The cocky smile was still ever present on her face. She intended to hurt Tommy, and she had succeeded. There was nothing Tommy hated more than people disrespecting his family. ?I?m sorry, I don?t know what you?re talking about,? She shrugged.
Calling The Police
?This has your name written all over it, Maggie! You?ve had a problem with my family since we moved in here, and I honestly should not be surprised that you would stoop this low! I?m calling the police!? He threatened.
But she didn?t seem phased at all. ?You have no proof. The police will come here, remove the sign, and leave again. Good luck trying, though,? She glared. But what did the sign say?
?Gender Insanity?
The sign was for local candidates that called policies for lgbtq youth ?gender insanity?. Maggie knew that Tommy had a gay son, and she had taken an issue with it.
Hearing the commotion outside, Linda and the children came rushing out of the house. The second he heard their front door open, a chill ran down Tommy?s spine. This couldn?t be happening.
They Hadn?t Noticed
Linda walked out first, followed by Joshua. They walked down the driveway, not noticing the sign right behind them. Linda had a concerned look on her face as she approached Tommy and Maggie.
She noticed the distressed look on her husband?s face. Linda instantly knew that something terrible had happened. ?What?s going on?? She asked.
Coming Out
But before Tommy could get a word out, the smug woman took a step forward. ?Oh, nothing too terrible, Linda, it just looks like someone had a little something to say to you and your unconventional family.?
Linda was confused by this, but Joshua had noticed the neighbors, he noticed their gaze on something behind him.
The Truth
Tommy?s heart shattered in his chest as he watched his son turn around, his gaze locking on the sign. Tommy couldn?t help the tears that burned behind his eyes.
All he ever wanted to do was protect Joshua, but it was too late now. He was caught off guard, and now Joshua had suffered the consequences.
Humiliation
The teenage boy went still as he stared at the massive sign before him. His hands were shaking when he turned to look at the crowds of people behind him.
They were still laughing and taking pictures. He felt utterly humiliated as all eyes were on him. They all knew who that sign was intended for. He felt like he was going to be sick. Tommy had to do something.
He Couldn?t Face Them
Tommy never was the best at thinking on his feet. His eyes drifted to the floor, he couldn?t face his wife and son at that moment. It broke his heart, and he felt like he had failed them.
But Linda had never been the type of woman to just let things go. It was silent for a second, and then she placed her hands on Maggie?s shoulders and pushed her.
Too Furious
The woman nearly tumbled over as she tried to regain her balance. Linda could barely speak, she was too furious. Knowing that she would only make the matter a thousand times worse while she was this angry, she decided to turn around.
Tommy watched as his wife headed back up the driveway and walked into their house. He knew that she felt as awful as he did.
Change
Joshua turned to face the woman who had decided to hurt him in the worst way possible, He said the first thing that came to mind. ?You know, Mrs. Smith, there aren?t many things that I want to change about myself,? He started.
?But if I could change anything, it would probably be this.? His words had an immediate effect. Sorrow crept over Maggie?s face, but she tried her best to suppress it.
Nothing Could Be Done
Tommy had to do something right away, but Maggie was right. The police wouldn?t be able to do anything about this. He had to take matters into his own hands. He turned to his son, his eyes sad when he saw the hurt on his face.
?Go inside. I?ll handle this,? He said. His mind was flooded with sorrow and confusion.
An Impulsive Reaction
Joshua slowly made his way inside while Tommy remained outside. He wasn?t sure what to do next, but he decided to act impulsively.
The smirk on Maggie?s face made him a thousand times more angry, but he had no idea that it hid a sense of regret. How could someone be so cruel to a teenager? Joshua had done nothing to Maggie, and now, she was humiliating him in front of everyone. ?Now if you?ll excuse me, I?m late for work,? She said.
Onwards
Tommy?s blood was boiling as he stormed through his backyard. He?d had enough of the harassment and cruelty. He couldn?t let her get away with this any longer.
He paused for a second. He had to think this through. In a fit of rage, he?d thought up the perfect plan to get his revenge, but was he taking this too far? With a shrug of his shoulders, he ventured onwards. She messed with the wrong man.
Activating The Sprinklers
He made it into the back of their garden and twisted his hand around the tap, turning it on full blast.
The sprinklers came on behind him, and he heard screaming from the front yard. When he came around the front, he was pleased to see the horrible woman soaking wet in the middle of the yard. Her clothes and makeup were destroyed.
Protecting Him
?How could you?? She screamed at the top of her lungs and stormed off. He tried to suppress his laughter, but it was impossible. When he turned to look at his house, he saw Joshua through a window.
He was laughing even harder than his father. It was a beautiful sight. Tommy promised his son that he would protect him no matter what, and that?s exactly what he did.