Every year, I host a quiet 4th of July barbecue for friends and family. But this time, our new neighbor, Jeff, had other plans. Just after midnight, he began launching loud, high-powered fireworks right outside our homes. The noise terrified the kids, kept everyone up, and even stressed out our elderly neighbor. When I asked him to tone it down, he just laughed and told me to “lighten up.”

Determined to make a point, I decided to have a little fun of my own. With help from a few friends, I decorated Jeff’s lawn with dozens of colorful, silly garden gnomes — all holding tiny American flags. Then we used washable chalk spray to cover his prized car with goofy, patriotic drawings. Everything was harmless, but the message was clear: respect your neighbors.