My Landlord Stole My Beautiful Christmas Tree and My Payback Was Harsh

“Can I put it next to my rocket ship?” 6-year-old Jake bounced over, pointing to his own masterpiece — a toilet paper roll painted silver with cardboard fins.

“How about right between your rocket and my angel?” I suggested, reaching for the step ladder.

“Best spot ever!” Ethan carefully positioned his snowflake. “This tree is like a giant memory book, isn’t it, Mom?”

“Sure is, baby. Every ornament tells our story.”

“And it’s the prettiest tree on the whole street!” Jake declared, dancing around its base. “Even prettier than the one at the mall!”

“Can we add more lights to the top?” Ethan asked, his eyes sparkling. “It needs to shine so Santa can see it from the North Pole!”

“Of course we can, honey. Let’s make it the brightest tree in town.”

But that joy lasted exactly 21 hours and 16 minutes. At 5:07 p.m. on Christmas Eve, a sharp knock interrupted “Jingle Bell Rock.”

There stood Mr. Bryant, our landlord, designer coffee in one hand, latest-model phone in the other. His cashmere scarf probably cost more than my monthly grocery budget.

“Suzana!” He barely glanced up from his screen. “About the rent.”

I straightened my shoulders. “It’s not due for another week, Mr. Bryant. Same as every month. There’s still time, right?”

“Just making sure you’re… AWARE!” His eyes then drifted to our tree, and something cold slithered across his face. “What exactly is THAT THING doing in the yard?”

“Our Christmas tree? We put it up last —”

“It needs to go.” He took a long sip of his coffee, grimacing like he’d tasted something bitter. “Fire hazard.”

“Fire hazard? It’s outside, Mr. Bryant. We’ve checked all the lights, and —”

“I’m sending a truck in an hour.” He turned to leave, then paused. “Oh, and happy holidays. Try to keep the noise down with all the… festivities.”

I stood there, frozen, as his car purred away. Inside, the boys were decorating sugar cookies, completely unaware that our Christmas was about to be shattered.

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