Derek lives two doors down. He’s in his forties, with an excessive amount of energy, too many decorations, and an obsession with every holiday. At first, I admired the effort — it was festive, even charming. Derek had a way of making our block feel alive. But over the years, it stopped feeling fun. His displays became so elaborate they bordered on theatrical. Christmas meant outdoor speakers blasting nonstop music, fake snow machines running late into the night, and windows glowing with lights like a movie set. Valentine’s Day brought garlands of pink and red, hearts wrapped around the bushes, and pink porch bulbs that lit the street like candy-colored lanterns. And the Fourth of July? Explosions of lights and sound that made our windows tremble. But Halloween — Halloween was his ultimate obsession.
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