Equipped with dash cam footage and a creative streak, Amber made a funny poster known as the “wall of shame” to deter her mother’s garden thieves. Although Amber’s audacious retaliation became the talk of the town, not everyone thought her billboard was funny.
There are benefits to residing in a charming suburban community in Texas. The light always seems to be shining just perfectly, the air smells like freshly cut grass, and the gardens—oh, the gardens—are breathtaking. The jewel in our street’s crown was my mother’s garden.
She put everything she had into it—planting every plant, tending to every flower, and painstakingly placing each garden accent. However, her joy and pride had recently been the object of some extremely thoughtless, sticky-fingered neighbors.
By the way, my name is Amber, and this is my story about why I chose to take revenge on my mother’s garden.
Small-scale thefts were initially committed. One day a garden gnome went gone, the next a potted plant vanished. Mom initially believed she was going insane.
“Perhaps I lost it,” she would murmur, her brow twisted in perplexity.
But then, over night, whole plant bulbs began to disappear. The most detrimental aspect? Her beloved tulips, which she had spent years honing, were there. Mom was heartbroken, and I was enraged.
The robbers even started carting stolen Mom’s garden statuary! One of the stolen gnomes was her favorite, a little ceramic elf with a mischievous grin that seemed to bring the garden to life.
And the plants, oh, the plants! Whole flowerbeds tramped over, roses stripped of their petals, young saplings removed and allowed to wither.
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It was more than just annoying.
One morning at breakfast, I said, “There has to be someone nearby.” “Who else would sneak around our garden in the middle of the night?”
With misted eyes, Mom sighed. “Amber, I simply do not understand. Why would someone act in this manner?
“I’ll find out,” I said, resolutely fixed in my jaw. “And when I do, they’ll regret ever messing with your garden.”
At first, I had no idea how I would apprehend these plant robbers, but then it dawned on me: the dash cam.
My vehicle was facing Mom’s garden when it was parked in the driveway. I configured it to continuously record in the hopes of apprehending the offenders.
I watched the video a week later. Bingo!
There they were, several of our nosy neighbors, slipping into the garden under the cover of darkness. They dug, plucked, and stole one by one. It made my blood boil to watch them.
I recognized several of them immediately.
There was Mr. Green from across the street, who I’d once caught staring at Mom’s roses; there was Mrs. Parker from two doors down, who was always chatting up everyone about their business; and there were even the Watson twins, who were known for getting into trouble.
It resembled a blatant parade that was taking place in our own backyard.
However, then a thought emerged. I would give them a stage if they wanted to create a show out of themselves.
Over the next three days, I worked on creating a poster that would deter any would-be burglar.
It had sharp pictures of our petty neighbors with clever captions underneath each one.
“Mr. Potato Head” gave a shy smile while he picked up a garden gnome. “Petal Pilferer” held a bunch of her mother’s tulips as if it were a prize. The pièce de résistance, of course, is “Pothead” hoisting a potted fern.
And my masterpiece’s title? “Go Away Without Us! Stealing makes you appear like a real sap, so avoid becoming a garden thief!”
It was priceless to see Mom’s response when she saw the poster
Amber laughed so hard she almost sobbed, saying, “Amber, this is brilliant!” “Let’s put it up right away.”
The poster was prominently displayed in our front yard for everyone to see. And wow, was it noticed by many?
Our front yard was a tourist destination by the next morning. Soon, the entire neighborhood was bustling as cars slowed down and pedestrians paused to take pictures and stare.
Reactions were varied and quick
While some of our neighbors smiled and praised our inventiveness, others ran past, clearly embarrassed and afraid they would be up next on our wall of shame. It was everything I hoped for and more.
I was inside, having my morning coffee, when I observed a group of kids snapping photos in front of the billboard. I couldn’t resist grinning. “Well, Mom, I think we’ve made quite the impression.”
Mom’s eyes glistened with a mixture of satisfaction and amusement as she peered out the window. “All right. Now perhaps they will reconsider before tampering with my garden.”
A knock on the door cut short our conversation just then. When I opened it, there was a cameraman accompanying a youthful, enthusiastic reporter who was holding a microphone.
“Hello, this is Julie from News Channel 5. We would be delighted to discuss your… innovative strategy for combating garden thieves with you.”
Mom and I looked at each other.
I said, “Sure, come on in,” and moved aside to make room for them.
For the next thirty minutes, we talked about the dash cam footage, the thefts, and our choice to hang the poster.
I could see the reporter savoring it, and Mom’s love for her garden was evident
Julie grinned at us as they gathered up their gear. This has the makings of a fantastic tale. I appreciate your time.
The altercations started soon after the news crew left. First up was Mr. Thompson, father of the teenage boy caught red-handed. He stormed up our driveway, his face as red as a tomato.
“How dare you embarrass my son like this!” he shouted, waving his finger in my face. “He was just trying to bring flowers to his sick girlfriend!”
I crossed my arms, unimpressed. “Really, Mr. Thompson? At midnight? From my mom’s garden? Does he have a problem with knocking on the door to ask if he can have flowers?”
He snarled something unpleasant under his breath before turning on his heel and stomping off.
I laughed, shaking my head. “Well, that went well.”
The next confrontation was a bit more pathetic.
Mr. Jenkins, an older man with a perpetually worried expression, shuffled up to our porch holding a plant cutting. He avoided eye contact while he spoke.
“I, uh, think my wife took this by mistake,” he murmured. “She’s on the town’s board of directors, you know. Can we keep this between us?”
Mom’s mischievous eyes twinkled. “Tell her to make like a bee and buzz off.”
Word got around like wildfire. Some neighbors thought the poster was brilliant, a long-overdue stand against petty theft.
Others thought we’d gone too far, turning what should’ve been a private matter into a public spectacle. At the town meeting that evening, opinions were split right down the middle.
“I think it’s great that someone finally did something about it!” As she spoke, Mrs. Collins clapped her hands. “People should respect other people’s property!”
“But it’s humiliating!” Mr. Perez got into a dispute. “You’re turning the neighborhood into a circus!”
Mom and I stayed put during the spirited arguments.
When the neighbors threatened lawsuits, we reminded them that we could also sue for theft and trespassing. That shut them up pretty quickly.
Back home, Mom and I settled into our usual evening routine. She tended to her newly flourishing garden while I kept an eye on the front yard, still bustling with activity.
A couple of college kids were taking a video in front of the poster, narrating the whole saga for their followers.
“Looks like we’ve gone viral,” I remarked, swiping through my phone. “We’re all over social media.”
Mom smiled, her eyes softening. “All right. Maybe now they’ll think twice before messing with anyone’s garden.”
In the weeks that followed, the thefts stopped completely. Mom’s garden started to grow like crazy. The grass turned greener, fresh flowers opened, and even the garden gnomes appeared to smile a little more broadly.
The poster remained up, serving as a daily reminder to appreciate the labor and assets of others.
The poster quickly became the stuff of local legend.
Visitors from nearby communities stopped by merely to take pictures and exchange anecdotes. It came to represent the tenacity of the community and the value of standing up for what is right.
Mom turned to face me one evening while we were enjoying the cool Texas breeze on the porch. Her eyes were beaming with pride.
“Without you, Amber, I couldn’t have completed this. I appreciate you defending my garden and me.”
I grinned as a wave of warmth passed through my chest. “What can I do for you, Mom? Anything at all for you.”
And as the sun descended on our idyllic suburban neighborhood, I realized that we had strengthened our bonds as a community in addition to safeguarding Mom’s garden.
Because in the end, it wasn’t just about the flowers or the gnomes. It was about respect, resilience, and the power of standing up for what’s right.
Kate Middleton and her children “upset” with Prince William’s recent decision
Kate Middleton is continuing her cancer treatment outside the public spotlight. It’s been about two months since she shared the news, which shocked royal fans around the world. There’s no news when she could be back on royal duty. However, new reports suggest that King Charles has made his mind up about her possible comeback this summer.
The Princess of Wales has received get-well messages from fans around the world, and when it comes to her family, they have made sure to give her all the support possible. Her parents, siblings, and the entire royal family are there for her one hundred percent. And in everyday life, her husband, Prince William, is her rock.
While Prince William has taken on many responsibilities in his father and wife’s absence, being a husband and a good father is his priority. The future king has been praised for handling the very challenging situation. But on a royal outing just days ago, William revealed that he upset his wife and children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis with a recent decision.
The royal family’s first half of 2024 has been more than just challenging. When Kate Middleton was hospitalized for 13 days after her abdominal surgery, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.
Kate Middleton – cancer diagnosis
The king canceled all his royal engagements, and Prince William and Queen Camilla began taking on more responsibility regarding royal engagements.
Kate’s absence from public life, not least because of the manipulated Mother’s Day picture, resulted in many conspiracy theories surrounding her. But on March 22, she told the world why she was absent.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful; however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore, advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” Kate Middleton said in her statement, recorded in the Windsor Gardens.
“This of course, came as a huge shock and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I’m going to be okay.”
King Charles and Kate Middleton were both praised for revealing their respective cancer diagnoses. Following Kate’s announcement, visits to the NHS website’s cancer information page increased by nearly five times, and Macmillan Cancer Support experienced a similar surge around Charles’ announcement.\
Meanwhile, the conspiracy theories about Kate reportedly made Prince William very frustrated.
Kate Middleton stayed quiet because of Prince William, royal expert says
In an interview with GB News, author Alexander Larman argued that the conspiracies surrounding Kate Middleton showed that the world is “obsessed by the health of the royal family,” and “look to them so set an example.”
Moreover, Larman claimed that Kate stayed quiet because of Prince William.
“The trolls have carried on to this day. But one thing that’s very interesting is if you look at the difference between the responses,” the author said. “Buckingham Palace came forward very quickly and gave a fairly candid idea of what’s happening with Charles with his illness, and Kensington Palace didn’t.”
“I think that’s because Prince William is much more into the vein of never complain, never explain, which was his great grandfather’s motto, and has always served the Royal Family well,” Alexander Larman continued.
“But it doesn’t hold up in 2024 because you’ve got to allow the idea the information is going to get out into the public, whether you like it or not.”
Prince William has juggled his responsibilities to the Crown and being a father and husband for months. He’s been praised for handling the situation, but experts have argued that he’s also been through a tough time.
On April 18, about a month after Kate’s cancer diagnosis was announced, he returned to royal duty as he visited a food distribution charity.
According to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, the “well-timed” outing sent a hidden message that things are returning to normality.
“Royals realize that every single thing they do sends a message in one way or another. It wasn’t just a question of appearing with George at an occasion that was enjoyable,” he told The Sun.
“It was a question of sending a signal that it was business as usual – as far as that was reasonable to be expected. If Catherine had been there, it would have been fantastic, but no one is expecting that. People wouldn’t expect that after her video message, which I think is the bravest ever on a health issue by a public figure in Britain.”
King Charles could ‘replace’ Kate Middleton with another royal family member this summer
Moreover, Richard Fitzwilliams said that William’s appearance at the food distribution charity also sends a message that not only him but also Kate are on their way to resuming royal duties.
“We know William is going back to royal duties shortly. The royal family obviously needs him. This was an important appearance, simply in the sense that it was what one would call normal. Obviously, with the royal family very little is actually normal at the moment. He is clearly looking after the children as far as feasible. I mean, it’s it’s a burden William has. It sent this message that things some things are going on, more or less as normal,” Fitzwilliams told The Sun.
While Kate Middleton hasn’t been on royal duty for months, it’s been reported that she still has done some work from both her hospital bed and later from home. But those who expect the princess back on royal duty soon might be disappointed.
At least, that’s according to a Daily Mail source, who claims King Charles is looking to other royal family members, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, to take her place in the many critical royal events coming up this summer.
“They’ve got a busy diary coming up, and they need to widen the family at social events. You’ve got a whole week of Ascot. You have four garden parties. You’ve got Trooping the Colour, and you’ve got a state visit before you even start on other things,” the source said.
The source added that King Charles is looking to “bring in some fresh blood,” as he believes they’ve “grown into very sensible, lovely women” who could be a great asset for the royal family.
“I think they are going through hell”
“They have been crying out for that royal glamour that has been missing during a time when his slimmed-down monarchy is in desperate need of bulking up.”
“Beatrice, in particular, has been desperate for her chance to shine. She was once shy, and her style was a little frumpy. But these days she’s ambitious, confident and fashionable. She looks great in photos,” the source concluded.
Kate Middleton and her husband have always prioritized their children’s needs over their own. As the next generation of royals, they have repeatedly shown how they want to modernize the monarchy in raising their children. The couple wants to make their children’s lives as normal as possible, considering they are some of the most famous children in the world.
Even though William has shared that Kate and their children are “doing well” despite the challenging situation, everyone isn’t convinced. Designer Amaia Arrieta, who’s worked closely with the Wales family in the past, told the Telegraph that things aren’t what they might seem.
“I’m heartbroken at the moment. I think they are going through hell,” Arrieta told the Telegraph. “I hope they will be back. It’s really personal.”
As mentioned, Amaia Arrieta has worked closely with the Wales family, mainly sourcing clothing for royal photos.
“Dressing the royals gives me so much pride, I really do care about how they look,” she added, “It’s often a very tight deadline. We would do anything for them… the children always look amazing in the end.”
Prince William says Kate and their children were “upset” over travel decision
Prince William has been back on royal duty for about a month. Kate Middleton generally would have joined him for many outings, but that won’t happen for a while, considering her recovery phase.
However, even though the Wales family knows how things are, it appears that Kate and her children still don’t appreciate everything William does. One of those things happened days ago, as Prince William visited the Isles of Scilly.
The archipelago is located off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, over which William became the Duke when Charles became king in September 2022. During his two-day tour, he made one stop at St. Mary’s Community Hospital, where he chatted with an administrator, Tracy Smith.
“I asked William about his wife Kate and he said: ‘She’s doing well, thanks.’ And I suggested they might like to come for a visit and bring the children,” Smith recalled the meeting as reported by several news outlets.
However, it appeared that Kate and the children didn’t appreciate his decision to travel to the Isles of Scilly alone.
As per Express, William said the trip had “upset” his wife and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
He said they were “upset I’m here without them” as he praised the glorious weather.
“My family are very upset I’m here without them. The children will kill me if I don’t go home later,” William said.
William’s claim about his family was undoubtedly humorous, but it most likely tells a bigger story. According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, the fact that he was away for two nights shows the public that things are going the right way.
“I’ve no doubt that Catherine’s parents will be staying with her, but even so it must be a step in the right direction. Hopefully Catherine is feeling stronger every day and, with the sun now shining, she’ll be able to enjoy the great outdoors which, for her, has always been restorative,” she told OK!.
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