Revenge is something that crosses all our minds from time to time. We may have experienced someone getting even with us or fantasized about giving someone their just desserts. While dreaming about revenge is one thing, actually carrying it out is another. Here, we’ll delve into stories where people took revenge in the most personal way possible—actions that many of us can only imagine ourselves doing.

This week, we had our middle school reunion via Zoom, and my friend, whom I’ll call Janice, brought up a memorable story. In our school, apart from Kindergarten, each grade was paired with another. For example, 1st and 2nd grades were taught together, 3rd and 4th together, and so on.

Every year, 7th and 8th graders participated in a special project called Toy Team (TT). We were divided into teams, tasked with building a toy that we could market. Local business representatives judged our projects, awarding prizes for categories like Best Presentation, Best Design, and Best Research.

TT’s purpose was to teach teamwork and creativity, but it often caused more trouble than it was worth—something my 8th-grade year demonstrated because of one kid, Carlos (not his real name). Carlos was a math and science prodigy but was also a real punk. He looked down on everyone and had a crew of followers who did his bidding.

At our private school, Carlos was untouchable due to his parents’ hefty donations. Even the teachers could do little to discipline him. My friend Janice and I were excited to work together until we found out Carlos was in our group. Carlos immediately took over, bossing us around and relegating us to secretarial tasks while he built our toy glider.

One day, while testing the gliders, I noticed a rubber band was about to snap and warned Carlos to adjust the glider. Carlos ignored me, and the band snapped, hitting him in the face and breaking the glider. He turned his anger on me, saying I sucked at math and science, which broke my spirit because I struggled in those subjects due to a learning disability.

I ran home in tears, where my dad comforted me and devised a plan to teach Carlos a lesson. My dad contacted our teacher and Janice’s parents, and they were on board. Mrs. Adams, our teacher, told Carlos that he would now work alone, while Janice and I would do our own project.

Carol led our efforts, and within a week, we rebuilt the glider. Our dads even helped us double-check our work, and we made improvements. On Presentation Day, while Carlos’s glider looked good, he had an anxious look. After presentations, we found that Carlos had stolen our work and presented it as his own.

When confronted, Carlos claimed we gave him our work. However, we had a signed contract proving otherwise. Carlos flunked the project and got his first ‘D’ on his report card, which his parents couldn’t dispute after hearing from our dads’ boss. Janice and I won Best Design, but the best reward was seeing Carlos’s ego deflated.

Another story involves my mom and my wife, whom she dislikes greatly. Once, we picked my mom up from the airport, and she demanded the front seat. My wife and I, knowing the passenger side window didn’t roll up, secretly switched places. When my mom got soaked at the car wash, I was secretly thrilled.

Then there’s the tale of my dad growing up in a tough Rust Belt town. When my parents helped my grandparents move, they brought my mom’s cherished Ford Mustang convertible. To protect it, they rigged a paint-filled pipe under the car. When stolen, the leaking paint led my dad and his friends to the thief’s house, retrieving the car thanks to my towering, ex-military grandpa.

My mom, ever the difficult person, often clashed with my wife. Before our small wedding, my wife’s sister informed me about my mom’s mean behavior. As a prank, I brought pie tins filled with whipped cream for a surprise pie-throwing game, which mortified my mom. She skipped the wedding ceremony, leading to a months-long silent treatment, but it was worth it.

In another instance, my uncle cheated me out of an inheritance my grandmother had intended for the family. Within two weeks, a scam artist swindled him out of his newfound wealth, teaching him a harsh lesson about greed.

My favorite story involves an ex-classmate, a relentless bully. During a hockey drill, I legally but fiercely tackled him, leading to his transfer to another team and a welcome reprieve for me and others who suffered his abuse.

Revenge can also take digital forms, like when an ex stole my girlfriend’s dress money on an online marketplace. Using social media and the husband’s military affiliation, I gathered evidence and reported him to his unit, leading to his eventual dismissal from the army for racism and misconduct.

When dealing with betrayal, swift action often yields the best results. After discovering my ex-fiancée cheated with a mutual acquaintance, I exposed her to her family and friends, ensuring she faced the consequences.

Then there’s Jafar, my terrible boss at a lounge. He mistreated us employees and exploited loopholes for his benefit. When he repeatedly stole my food, I started cooking with bacon and pork, items forbidden in his diet. While it didn’t fix everything, it was a small, satisfying victory.

In the end, revenge isn’t always about grand gestures but often about addressing the wrongs in personal and meaningful ways. Each of these stories reflects the creativity and determination people use to ensure justice, even if on a small scale. Whether through careful planning, leveraging digital sleuthing, or orchestrating a deliciously fitting prank, these moments of retaliation remind us that sometimes, the best payback is personal.