Playing With Fire: The Downfall of the Neighborhood Tyrants Chapter 2

This wasn't my first clash with their family.

They were the typical "Happy Family" type, with matching cartoon family avatars for their group chat profiles.

They were the absolute tyrants of the HOA group chat and the ultimate troublemakers in the school parent groups.

Their life motto was to make themselves happy by inconveniencing everyone else.

The only reason they could open a BBQ joint in a residential complex was because they threw such massive tantrums.

They were so loud and obnoxious that the HOA didn't dare cross them, resorting to giving them perks just to shut them up.

Otherwise, who could stand them picking fights every other day?

I happened to live right above them, in apartment 602.

And because of that, I got a front-row seat to their unhinged audacity.

The day I moved in, they saw me packing with the door open.

Frank's wife, Brenda, swaggered right into my apartment, bold as brass.

Without a single word, she handed me a printed piece of paper and walked out, her nose stuck in the air.

I looked closely at the contents. Holy crap:

"Building Rules:

My kid has to do homework at night. No cooking in the building from 6 PM to 10 PM. Anyone who turns on a range hood and makes noise, I'll smash your door in!

My wife has a weak nervous system. All renovations are strictly banned. Not even on weekends. If a contractor comes, I'll break their legs!

No cats or dogs allowed in the building. Get rid of them within a week, or I'll throw them out myself!

No using the elevator after 10 PM. My family sleeps light, and the doors opening and closing is too loud!"

And that was just the first few rules.

The entire page was packed with over seventy ridiculous demands.

It was practically the Code of Hammurabi for psychopaths.