When I placed a cheerful garden gnome on my front lawn, I never imagined it would start a feud with my cranky neighbor Harold. He claimed gnomes brought bad luck and warned me to get rid of it. I didn’t. The next morning, his yard was filled with smoking “cleansing lanterns,” their fumes drifting straight into my house. I retaliated with an army of twelve gnomes, including one styled like Elvis. The battle lines were drawn.

Soon, the HOA got involved—Harold had filed a complaint. A stern inspector cited me for everything from wind chimes to trim color. Feeling defeated, I moved the gnomes to the backyard.

The next day, as I dragged out a ladder to repaint my trim, Harold appeared… with a paint can and an apology. He confessed he’d gone too far, and together we painted, talked, and even laughed. He opened up about losing his wife; I shared my post-divorce need for comfort—like my gnomes.

As the sun set, Harold helped me return the original gnome to its spot by the roses. “Dinner sometime?” he asked. I smiled. “Only if you leave the smoke bombs at home.” Sometimes, the smallest things—like a garden gnome—can lead to the biggest changes.