I think I accidentally created a neighborhood mystery and now I don't know how to solve it.
By @ashkay · Need Suggestions
I started leaving my retired neighbor's favorite snacks and magazines on his porch because I knew he was lonely. Now the whole street is trying to figure out who the 'Secret Santa of Summer' is and they want to throw a party to unmask them.
The full story
Okay so this has gotten way out of hand, and I need ideas on how to navigate this without making it weird. My next-door neighbor is a widower in his late 70s. He's super sweet but mostly keeps to himself, and I know since his wife passed a few years ago he gets pretty lonely. I work from home, so I see him sitting on his porch a lot. About two months ago, I was at the grocery store and saw they had his favorite brand of weird old-man butterscotch candies. On a whim, I bought them and just... left them on his porch with a little note that said "Hope this makes you smile!" I did it when I knew he wouldn't see me. His reaction was priceless. He came out, saw the bag, looked around like a little kid on Christmas morning, and went back inside with this huge grin on his face. It was so pure. So I kept doing it. Nothing big, just little things. A crossword puzzle book, a copy of a magazine about classic cars I saw, sometimes a fresh pastry from the bakery. It became my little secret mission. It was just a small, anonymous way to hopefully brighten his day. Well, he started talking about it to the other neighbors on the block. He calls his anonymous benefactor the 'Porch Pixie'. Then someone else on the street mentioned it on our neighborhood Facebook group. And then it spiraled. Suddenly, everyone is obsessed. People are leaving out 'traps' (like cookies and thank you notes) trying to catch the 'Pixie'. They've started a whole narrative, calling it the 'Secret Santa of Summer,' and now the HOA president, of all people, has decided we need to throw a block party to 'honor and unmask our local hero.' I am horrified. This was supposed to be a quiet, kind thing for one person. Now it's a public spectacle. I don't want the attention, and I feel like revealing myself would make it awkward and ruin the magic for my neighbor. But if I don't come forward at this party, they're going to be so disappointed, and what if they start suspecting the wrong person? How do I get out of this? Do I confess before the party? Do I just ghost the whole operation? Do I send an anonymous letter to the HOA? I feel like I've created a monster.
How people voted
- On their side — 31% (8 votes)
- Both sides — 42% (11 votes)
- Other side — 27% (7 votes)
Readers say “Both sides” (42%) — 26 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@alsoyikes — Let them have the party.
@lostthebet — Just show up to the party with a tray of butterscotch candies and a knowing smile. Let chaos reign.
@brbcrying — no good deed goes unpunished lol
@tannerk — This is so wholesome it hurts. But yeah, you created a monster. A very sweet, well-intentioned monster.
@gabeish — Send an anonymous letter to the HOA saying the 'pixie' has moved away. Problem solved.