When my rich sister-in-law saw us in matching Superman costumes at her fancy Halloween party, she kicked my family out to “avoid confusion.” What she didn’t realize was that her mean move would lead to an unforgettable revenge in her fancy neighborhood.
I’m not usually a petty person, but sometimes life gives you chances for revenge that are too good to ignore.
Looking back, I should have guessed something was off when my mother-in-law’s eyes lit up at our Superman costumes in the store that day.
“Oh, how creative,” she said, smiling as brightly as her recent Botox treatment would allow. “The boys must be thrilled.”
She touched the fabric of Jake’s cape with her perfectly manicured nails, her nose wrinkling a little. “Though maybe something more… sophisticated would suit Isla’s Halloween party better?”
I barely held back a sigh. This was typical Brenda, always finding something to criticize about Dan and me.
When we started dating, I didn’t know my husband Dan came from a wealthy family. He chose to open an auto repair shop instead of joining the family finance firm, which made him the black sheep.
His family didn’t approve of me at first. Honestly, I didn’t approve of them either, with their snobby attitudes and complicated social rules. But I learned to deal with it after Dan and I got married.
“The boys picked the costumes themselves,” I told Brenda that day, straightening my back. “And they are so excited about it. The kids’ happiness is what matters, right?”
“Mmm,” she hummed, her usual look of disappointment crossing her face. “Well, I suppose that’s… sweet.”
I forced a smile. “It is. You should have seen how excited Tommy was when he suggested it.”
It was my oldest boy’s idea to dress as a Superman family. He burst into the kitchen after school, backpack bouncing against his shoulders, eyes bright with excitement.
Dan walked in just then, grease still on his cheek from working on a car. “That’s actually perfect, buddy. What do you think, Marcia?”
“Can we, Mom? Please?” Jake chimed in, bouncing on his toes. “We could be the strongest family ever!”
I agreed right away. The boys’ excitement was contagious, and we really needed some family fun after months of dealing with snide comments about our “quaint” lifestyle and Dan’s job.
Just last week, Isla had commented at dinner about how brave I was to shop at regular stores instead of her favorite boutiques.
And you know what Dan’s father said when he opened his fourth location? “At least you’re consistent in your choices, son.”
So, yes, we were craving a little joy.
On the night of Isla’s Halloween party, the boys were practically bouncing with excitement, their red capes fluttering in the fall breeze. Professionally carved pumpkins lined the driveway, each one probably costing more than our whole Halloween budget.
“Look at all the decorations!” Jake gasped, pointing at the elaborate display. “They even have fog machines!”
“And look at those skeletons at the guesthouse!” Tommy added, eyes wide at the fancy landscaping.
That’s when I saw Isla at the top of the marble steps in a matching but clearly designer Superwoman costume. Her husband Roger wore a movie-quality Superman suit, and their son was dressed the same way.
Their costumes caught the light beautifully, and Isla’s cape seemed to float perfectly as she walked down to meet us.
My stomach dropped. I could feel Dan tense beside me.
“Oh my,” Isla’s voice dripped with false sweetness as we approached. “What an unfortunate coincidence.” She fixed her perfect hair, the diamond bracelet on her wrist sparkling. “Though I must say, the resemblance between our costumes is rather… loose.”
“Isla—” Dan started, his jaw tight.
“You see,” she cut him off, waving her hand at the guests behind her, “we simply can’t have two Superman families at the party. It would confuse everyone.”
Her perfect red lips curved into a sly smile. “You’ll either need to go home and change, wear something from our spare clothes, or…” She waved dismissively. “Leave.”
Roger stood behind her, trying to hide his smirk behind a champagne glass. Their son, Maxwell, looked at my boys with that same superior expression I often saw on Isla’s face.
I felt Tommy’s small hand slip into mine, shaking slightly. Jake pressed against Dan’s leg, his earlier excitement fading fast. That’s when something in me snapped.
Eight years of subtle insults, watching my husband’s success being ignored, and seeing my kids’ joy dimmed by their aunt’s need to be superior all came together in that moment.
“Actually,” I said, squeezing Tommy’s hand and filling my voice with enthusiasm, “we’re going on an adventure instead. Right, boys?”
“But Mom—” Jake started, his lip quivering.
“Trust me,” I said over my shoulder.
“This will be way better than a stuffy party. How does the Halloween festival downtown sound? I heard they have a bouncy house shaped like a haunted castle.”
Dan caught my eye, and I saw the same fire in him that I felt. He wrapped his arm around Jake’s shoulders. “Your mom’s right. Who wants to hit the festival? I bet they have better candy than Aunt Isla’s fancy party.”
“Really?” Tommy’s eyes lit up. “Can we get our faces painted?”
“Absolutely,” Dan grinned. “We can get whatever you want.”
The festival turned out to be amazing. We played games, got our faces painted like superheroes, and took a ton of photos. Tommy won a giant stuffed bat at the ring toss, and Jake managed to bob for three apples in a row.
Dan treated us all to hot chocolate with extra marshmallows, and we watched a local theater group perform spooky skits.
“This is way better than Aunt Isla’s party,” Jake declared, chocolate smeared across his chin. “Way, way better.”
The next day, my phone rang.
It was Julia, who catered Isla’s party. We had become friends over the years, bonding over our shared status as “outsiders” in the Preston social scene.
“Marcia, you won’t believe what I overheard,” she said, her voice full of anger. “Isla was bragging about the whole thing. She bought those costumes just to kick you out!”
“What?” I gripped the phone tighter, sinking onto the couch.
“She told Roger, and I quote, ‘Finally, I put that brat and her little brats in their place.’ And he laughed! Called you guys a ‘discount superhero act.’” Julia paused, disgust clear in her tone. “There’s more.”
I sighed. “Tell me.”
“Isla called you a circus act and said, ‘At least now everyone knows where they stand in this family.’”
Everything clicked into place.
My mother-in-law’s reaction to our costumes, the whole setup, and the humiliation had been a planned attack on my family, using my kids’ joy against us.
“Thanks, Julia,” I said quietly, my mind racing with ideas. “I appreciate you telling me. Isla is not getting away with this.”
Two days later, I stood in front of the billboard I had rented across from Isla’s estate. Our family photo from the festival shone down on the street, showing us in our “discount” costumes, faces painted and full of joy.
The best part was the text above it: “The Real Super Family: No Villains Allowed.”
The town gossip spread fast. Texts and calls flooded in, some subtle, others openly delighted about Isla’s costume scheme backfiring. Memes started circulating on social media.
Even Roger’s mother called it “deliciously fitting” at her weekly bridge club. The local coffee shop began serving a “Super Family Special” of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows.
That evening, Dan found me in the kitchen, looking at my phone as another supportive message came through. This one was from his father’s secretary.
“You know,” he said, grinning with a sparkle in his eyes, “I’ve never been prouder to be married to a superhero.”
I leaned back against him, watching Tommy and Jake play superheroes in the backyard through the window. “Someone had to stand up to the villains.”
“Mom! Dad!” Tommy called from outside. “Come play with us! I’m Superman, and Jake’s Spider-Man now!”
“That’s not how it works!” Jake protested. “We can’t mix superhero worlds.”
“We can in our family,” Tommy declared. “We make our own rules!”
We joined our boys in the yard, capes flying, our laughter ringing off the fence.
At that moment, I realized something important: Isla might have fancy costumes and a big house, but we had a family that was truly super, not just playing dress-up.
Desiree Anzalone, great-granddaughter of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, and her tragic fate
Despite having been gone for thirty years, Lucille Ball is still adored and remembered by a large number of people.
She became well-known as the most popular comedy actress of the 1950s when she co-starred with her husband, Desi Arnaz, in the television series I Love Lucy.
She began her career as a model and film actor before becoming well-known for her roles in television shows. By the time her career ended, she had acted in more than 70 films.
In many respects, Lucille Ball’s legacy persisted, and her great-granddaughter exhibited a remarkable likeness to her well-known great-grandmother.
Desiree Anzalone, 31, tragically passed away in a terrible way in 2020.
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-3764810839868565&output=html&h=183&slotname=8851483697&adk=3165718864&adf=2787893979&pi=t.ma~as.8851483697&w=730&abgtt=6&fwrn=4&lmt=1725781128&rafmt=11&format=730×183&url=https%3A%2F%2Favokaddo.com%2F2024%2F08%2F08%2Fdesiree-anzalone-great-granddaughter-of-desi-arnaz-and-lucille-ball-and-her-tragic-fate%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawFKI2xleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUuC_nBn4GAkUAyg4IWnVSNBCELOe_aChAvHtlWAZ9p8k5AtmjkC0MPznQ_aem_Kp2gfzsB52HnPvdCeTYeWQ&wgl=1&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMC4zLjAiLCJ4ODYiLCIiLCIxMDkuMC41NDE0LjE2OCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJOb3RfQSBCcmFuZCIsIjk5LjAuMC4wIl0sWyJHb29nbGUgQ2hyb21lIiwiMTA5LjAuNTQxNC4xNjgiXSxbIkNocm9taXVtIiwiMTA5LjAuNTQxNC4xNjgiXV0sMF0.&dt=1725776924423&bpp=1&bdt=349&idt=211&shv=r20240904&mjsv=m202409030101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dd6f422181fa8e320%3AT%3D1712754368%3ART%3D1725778042%3AS%3DALNI_MbQ8K8Uz_tQiOWk9_ho73iGWbUvXg&gpic=UID%3D00000de663175333%3AT%3D1712754368%3ART%3D1725778042%3AS%3DALNI_MZzkvLBsYSBf99BTmrLqXAWredf6A&eo_id_str=ID%3D880422cb866d8cdc%3AT%3D1712754368%3ART%3D1725778042%3AS%3DAA-AfjYIkHBaiiV25sK_LhuhTK3y&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1100x280%2C1374x789%2C730x183&nras=2&correlator=5056646407997&frm=20&pv=1&rplot=4&u_tz=420&u_his=1&u_h=768&u_w=1360&u_ah=728&u_aw=1360&u_cd=24&u_sd=0.75&dmc=8&adx=137&ady=1927&biw=1374&bih=789&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44759876%2C44759927%2C44759842%2C31086639%2C95338227%2C95341662%2C95342032%2C31086141%2C95340844&oid=2&pvsid=3277633531966599&tmod=410453624&uas=0&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&fc=1920&brdim=147%2C51%2C147%2C51%2C1360%2C0%2C1064%2C712%2C1397%2C789&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CopeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=0.76&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDNd&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=2&fsb=1&dtd=M
I Love Lucy changed history in a lot of ways and propelled Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz to stardom. It was among the first sitcoms to be recorded live and set the precedent for numerous other well-known sitcoms.
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-3764810839868565&output=html&h=183&slotname=3197500636&adk=285818458&adf=3008120637&pi=t.ma~as.3197500636&w=730&abgtt=6&fwrn=4&lmt=1725781129&rafmt=11&format=730×183&url=https%3A%2F%2Favokaddo.com%2F2024%2F08%2F08%2Fdesiree-anzalone-great-granddaughter-of-desi-arnaz-and-lucille-ball-and-her-tragic-fate%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawFKI2xleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUuC_nBn4GAkUAyg4IWnVSNBCELOe_aChAvHtlWAZ9p8k5AtmjkC0MPznQ_aem_Kp2gfzsB52HnPvdCeTYeWQ&wgl=1&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMC4zLjAiLCJ4ODYiLCIiLCIxMDkuMC41NDE0LjE2OCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJOb3RfQSBCcmFuZCIsIjk5LjAuMC4wIl0sWyJHb29nbGUgQ2hyb21lIiwiMTA5LjAuNTQxNC4xNjgiXSxbIkNocm9taXVtIiwiMTA5LjAuNTQxNC4xNjgiXV0sMF0.&dt=1725776924424&bpp=1&bdt=350&idt=214&shv=r20240904&mjsv=m202409030101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dd6f422181fa8e320%3AT%3D1712754368%3ART%3D1725778042%3AS%3DALNI_MbQ8K8Uz_tQiOWk9_ho73iGWbUvXg&gpic=UID%3D00000de663175333%3AT%3D1712754368%3ART%3D1725778042%3AS%3DALNI_MZzkvLBsYSBf99BTmrLqXAWredf6A&eo_id_str=ID%3D880422cb866d8cdc%3AT%3D1712754368%3ART%3D1725778042%3AS%3DAA-AfjYIkHBaiiV25sK_LhuhTK3y&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1100x280%2C1374x789%2C730x183%2C730x183%2C1005x124&nras=3&correlator=5056646407997&frm=20&pv=1&rplot=4&u_tz=420&u_his=1&u_h=768&u_w=1360&u_ah=728&u_aw=1360&u_cd=24&u_sd=0.75&dmc=8&adx=137&ady=3058&biw=1374&bih=789&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44759876%2C44759927%2C44759842%2C31086639%2C95338227%2C95341662%2C95342032%2C31086141%2C95340844&oid=2&psts=AOrYGskyOsOmjarnLkbtBHy2xNZs4B6pRETlDjNI3Mw4Mr0Ih_MtXDHlfw8Zm3ZTYjjviygg6q4OZE-g_6b6UcWdYft4B_EqoVdlHCJrajO48F8tropjHQ&pvsid=3277633531966599&tmod=410453624&uas=0&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&fc=1920&brdim=147%2C51%2C147%2C51%2C1360%2C0%2C1064%2C712%2C1397%2C789&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CopeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=0.76&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDNd&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=4&fsb=1&dtd=M
Having been married twice, Lucille Ball had two kids. She married Desi Arnaz, her co-star in the film I Love Lucy, in 1940. Desi Arnaz Jr. and Lucie Arnaz are the names of the couple’s two children.
Though Desi Arnaz Jr.’s birth was among the most widely reported in television history, it wasn’t an easy life for the son of two famous people. He has acknowledged in the past that he had wild parties in Hollywood during his formative years in the 1950s and 1960s.
He was surrounded by pressure and temptation because he was the child of two extremely well-known television actors.In reality, at the tender age of fifteen, he became a parent.
Even though Arnaz Jr. did not get close to his daughter Julia until almost two decades later, he tried to make up for his earlier lack of presence by being present for his granddaughter, Desiree Anzalone.
When Lucille Ball, the actress behind I Love Lucy, gave birth to Arnaz Jr. on the same night as her main character did in a prerecorded episode, the child shot to prominence.
It was a historic event because CBS had previously maintained that a pregnant woman could not be shown on air.
The infant developed into a teenager in the company of Hollywood aristocracy, eventually rising to fame as a teenage idol of his own on his parents’ other project, Here’s Lucy.
He eventually met the mother of his daughter, Susan Callahan-Howe, about this period. She was a model.Susan and Desi Jr. first connected when they were just 15 years old. However, it took years for Desi Jr. and his daughter Julia to get back together in the 1990s.
Sadly, Julia never got to meet her famous grandma because it was after Lucille passed away.
Callahan spent years informing her daughter that her father was well-known before she tragically passed away from COVID-19 in 2020. Years later, in 1991, Julia made the decision to confirm it through a paternity test.
“When I was twenty, we took a DNA test, and the results showed that I was, in fact, his daughter. Shortly after that, my father and I began a wonderful relationship,” Julia told Page Six.
By now, I’m at least eighteen. He might have said, “Well, she’s my child, whatever.” However, he didn’t. He was a huge assistance to me throughout my life and to my daughter as she went to college.
Desiree Anzalone was that daughter, and Julia clarified that her father also grew close to her. She continued by saying that they were very close and that Desiree even briefly resided with Arnaz Jr.
In addition, Julia gave her daughter the second name Desiree in remembrance of her grandmother Lucille, who had won an Emmy.
Desiree, who studied creative writing at the University of North Texas, was employed as a photographer.
People reports that the young woman was given a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 25.
Anzalone had a double mastectomy and experienced a brief period of remission before the cancer reappeared and spread to her bones, liver, and lungs.
Desiree’s life unfortunately came to an end in 2020.
During the 2020 pandemic, Julia Arnaz had to deal with her mother passing away from COVID-19 and her daughter being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.
“I wasn’t able to see her as much as I usually do because she was compromised and I didn’t want her getting sick in any way,” Julia told People. “The COVID-19 kept us apart.” Due to the COVID since March, I was unable to spend as much time with her as I usually do. Even though we would hang out almost every day, I didn’t see her as much as I would have liked. She also spent some time living with me.
Julia Arnaz stated to Page Six in May 2021 that she was committed to working as an activist to support other young women in stopping the sickness that killed her daughter from progressing so quickly.
She has pledged to increase the number of mammograms performed in Connecticut, her home state. Arnaz wants to encourage younger women to start these checks sooner rather than later, even if older women are usually advised to do so on a regular basis.
“There’s a big difference in those four or five months,” she said. And my daughter, this lovely angel…A lot of young ladies may say, “Oh, it’s just a cyst, no big deal.” However, she truly stood up for herself, and I urge other young ladies to follow suit.
Julia Arnaz has persisted in raising awareness of this problem and making her voice heard in the public after her daughter’s untimely death.
It’s simply not discussed very often. According to Julia Arnaz in someone, “it’s usually people in their late 30s, 40s, or 50s — not somebody at this age.” She thus genuinely wanted to assist other ladies who were in a similar situation to herself. a prophylactic.
Leave a Reply