Chewed Sunflower Seeds and Banana Runts: The Sweet Taste of Petty Revenge on Wheels
There’s a certain flavor to college friendships: late-night drives, questionable snacks, inside jokes—and sometimes, the irresistible urge for a little payback. If you’ve ever found suspicious crumbs or, worse, half-eaten food in your car thanks to a “best friend,” you’ll recognize the sweet satisfaction in this legendary tale of petty revenge from Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge.
Meet u/Silent-Warning5654, whose college road trips were soured by the unholy duo of chewed sunflower seeds and decomposing chicken sandwiches hidden in the back seat. But don’t worry—justice was served, one banana-flavored Runt at a time.
The Sunflower Seed Saboteur
Let’s set the stage: You’re the designated driver in college. Your car is your pride, your freedom, your ticket to adventure. But, as so many of us have learned, with great power (of owning a car) comes great responsibility—and sometimes, gross consequences.
Our Reddit storyteller recounted how his trusty ride became a mobile trash can courtesy of his “best friend,” who had a peculiar habit: leaving chewed-up sunflower seeds and half-eaten chicken sandwiches tucked away in every available compartment. Imagine: you’re cruising with the windows down, blasting your favorite tunes, only to be ambushed a week later by a stench straight out of a horror movie.
After repeatedly finding these revolting gifts, the author learned to shout at his friend post-trip, but the damage (and the smell) was already done. If you’ve ever scraped fossilized food out of a cupholder, you know the pain.
The Petty Plot: Banana Runts Strike Back
Now, here’s where the story takes a delicious turn.
Our hero’s friend—a notorious sunflower seed saboteur—had an equally strong passion for Runts candy. You know the ones: those hard, fruit-shaped candies that are a staple of gas station vending machines. But there’s a twist—he detested the banana-flavored Runts, which, let’s be honest, are the weird outcasts of the Runts family.
As fate would have it, the friend owned a Runts vending machine, and by some cosmic coincidence (or perhaps a little light lockpicking), u/Silent-Warning5654 had a key that fit the machine’s lock. The gears of revenge began to turn.
Like a candy-sorting ninja, he emptied the machine, separated out every last banana Runt, and then filled the entire machine with them. Only when the yellow menace was depleted did he refill it with the rest of the flavors. For weeks (or perhaps months), his messy buddy was left with nothing but a mouthful of his most hated candy every time he reached for a sweet treat.
Why Petty Revenge Feels So Good
Petty revenge stories are internet gold for a reason. They’re relatable, clever, and just the right amount of mean—like a prank that’s more poetic justice than actual harm. In this case, the punishment fit the crime: years of car-based biohazards repaid with a candy-based inconvenience.
Why do we love these stories? Because, deep down, we’ve all wanted to even the score in small, satisfying ways—especially when the stakes are so low and the laughs so high.
And let’s face it: banana-flavored Runts are the raisins-in-cookies of the candy world. Even the most hardened sugar fiends give them the side-eye. Watching someone be forced to confront a pile of them is a punchline that never gets old—especially 35 years later, as the author confesses he still laughs about it.
The Takeaway (and the Invitation)
Revenge is a dish best served… yellow and banana-shaped. Whether it’s a roommate who leaves dirty dishes in the sink, a sibling who “borrows” your clothes, or a friend who treats your car like a dumpster, sometimes the best payback is a gentle (but hilarious) reminder not to mess with you.
Have you ever pulled off a perfectly petty act of revenge? Or maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of one? Share your stories in the comments below—let’s celebrate the art of getting even, one harmless prank at a time!
And remember: next time you’re tempted to leave your snack debris in someone’s back seat, beware—you might find yourself facing a lifetime supply of your least favorite candy.
What’s the best petty revenge you’ve ever witnessed? Drop your stories below or tag a friend who needs to hear this cautionary tale!
Original Reddit Post: Leaving chewed sunflower seeds all over my backseat compartments