Some secrets are best kept under wraps, even from our closest friends. But there’s a peculiar satisfaction in hearing about the secrets of others, especially when those secrets involve a good story of revenge. Many of us have imagined getting even at some point, and here are some stories from those who have done just that.

These tales of revenge can either be seen as acts of courage or as clever tricks. You can decide for yourself after reading them.

1. Pregnancy Is Definitely An Excuse To Sit Down

A quick backstory: This episode occurred when I was pregnant and stationed at a limited duty post in the Navy. I worked in an office full of pregnant or injured sailors, under a couple of supervisors who just couldn’t hide their disdain for pregnant women (assuming we got pregnant just to dodge sea duty).

I was the most senior pregnant woman there, knowledgeable enough to call out any nonsense. Our duties included physical training (or PT) three times a week. However, for pregnant women, this meant no sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, or standing and walking for extended periods.

Typically, we could choose light exercises, like stretching and using yoga balls. We even requested to join a gym’s pregnancy yoga class, but it was denied. Sometimes, the supervisors would demand unreasonable activities, like running in the rain, which I usually managed to shut down quickly. So, I wasn’t exactly on their favorite list.

When I entered my third trimester, my anemia worsened and I began experiencing severe dizziness. One day, this dizziness caused me to slip off my yoga ball. As I tried to recover, my supervisor yelled at me to keep working out.

Despite explaining my condition and showing my medical chit that allowed me to rest, he insisted I go to medical if I wanted to sit down, but refused to let someone drive me. Upon threatening to call an ambulance, he reluctantly allowed someone to drive me to medical but not back to work.

At medical, I had tests done and spoke to the department head, who informed me of regulations stating pregnant women should only perform PT as per an approved plan, which our command lacked. He wrote this down with a highlighted note and his contact details for my LPO (leading petty officer). He even gave me a chit allowing rest at my discretion and a week’s medical leave due to my low iron levels.

Returning to work, I calmly handed over these documents, leading to a change. From that day, pregnant women could do PT at any suitable time, allowing us to attend the 10 am yoga class. Productivity stayed steady, but the supervisors now had to take on the physically demanding work we were no longer allowed to perform.

2. Refusing To Do Homework Since I’m Going To Pass Anyways

Back in high school, this is one of my proudest moments. I was a gifted kid in an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, with undiagnosed ADHD. I excelled in tests but rarely completed homework, especially if it was redundant, like our IB History notes assignments. They had a specific format and high quotas that everyone, including me, found tedious.

Our teacher, fed up with complaints, decided that missed assignments would be waived if we scored well on the final exam. Otherwise, they would count as zeros.

This was music to my ears. I decided to skip all homework for the term and rely on my class notes to ace the final, which I typically did. About halfway through, the teacher questioned my decision, but I remained confident.

The final exam involved two essays. I completed them quickly and accurately, earning top scores. The teacher, hoping to catch me out, had no choice but to waive all my homework assignments. I ended up with an A, much to her frustration.

3. Mess With My Friend’s Mailbox? We’ll Mess With You

My best friend and I, sons of police officers, lived in a quiet rural area. One morning, his family found their mailbox destroyed, suspecting a hit and run. After it happened again, we decided to take action. With his father’s welding skills, we built a reinforced mailbox cemented into the ground.

Two weeks later, a car crashed into it. The driver abandoned the vehicle but left enough evidence for an arrest. He faced charges for the damage and additional issues discovered in his car.

We repainted the mailbox to be more visible to avoid further incidents. It was safely within their property and away from the road. Anyone driving responsibly would never accidentally hit it. The next time someone tried to mess with their mailbox, they had a solid reminder of the consequences.