The Day I Taught My Neighbor’s Kid A Lesson—And His Mom Finally Thanked Me

To be honest, I didn’t know how it was, but I kept the conversation brief and cordial.

The situation soon became serious. The very next day, Matteo did more than just ring the bell—he smeared a food product, either peanut butter or Nutella, all over my doorknob. This was particularly alarming because I have a known peanut allergy. While I was fortunate that the reaction wasn’t severe and I washed my hands immediately, I was deeply rattled by the potential danger.

I brought it up with Renata again, this time with a greater sense of urgency. Her tone hardened immediately. “He would never do that. Maybe it was one of the other neighborhood kids. Or maybe a squirrel. I saw one near our porch with a granola bar yesterday.” The idea of a squirrel being the culprit was almost laughable, but I held my tongue. I knew I needed undeniable proof.

Gathering Evidence and The Teenager’s Intervention

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