When Lexie’s husband’s parents are left to give up their home due to losing their jobs, they are left stranded. Seeing her husband’s distress at being unable to help, Lexie allows her mother to welcome them to stay with her. Things start off okay, but then the tables start to turn. Instead of being grateful, they start to complain about everything, resulting in a call to social services.
Not long after Cameron and I got married, his parents were faced with unfortunate circumstances. His mom, Jessica, and dad, Roger had no choice but to give up their home because Roger had lost his job.
An elderly couple sitting on a bench | Source: Unsplash
Cameron and I didn’t have the space to take them in. But they were desperate, and so were we. We couldn’t let them just try and figure it out for themselves.
When they realized that my mother lives alone, they asked her to let them move in with her. My mom had a double-story house, but due to being wheelchair bound since a car accident a few years ago, she had a live-in nurse to care for her.
A broken windshield | Source: Pexels
“Please, Tanya,” my mother-in-law said when we were all at my mother’s house for dinner. “We don’t have anywhere else to go. And we don’t have any money available at the moment.”
I knew that this entire thing affected my husband because there was only so much we could do in our own capacity. When my mother agreed, Cameron gripped onto my hand tightly and sighed in relief.
A woman in a wheelchair | Source: Midjourney
“Of course, you can stay here. You can stay for as long as you need to,” my mother told them.
At first, things were okay.
My mother-in-law cooked meals, and my father-in-law mowed the grass and took care of the basic upkeep of the house.
A person cutting oranges | Source: Pexels
But then, things changed and social services got involved. It was a nightmare.
This is what happened.
My in-laws began complaining that my mom was occupying the whole first floor, something that was obvious. Since her accident, my sister and I had converted the first floor into an entire house by itself for my mother.
A wheelchair beside a bed | Source: Pexels
She needed her space, and we were going to give it to her. The second floor was for our space when we visited Mom.
Instead of being grateful, my in-laws complained that they couldn’t put their stuff there. They mumbled about the simple food my mother had in her fridge.
An open fridge | Source: Pexels
“It’s such basic foods. There’s nothing new or different here,” Roger would say.
But still, even though they complained, they didn’t try to buy their own food or food that they would have liked to eat on occasion.
An elderly couple shopping | Source: Pexels
Nothing changed when Jessica got a job as head librarian at the local library or when Roger got a job as a proofreader for the local newspaper.
“Don’t you think they should start looking for a new place?” Cameron asked me when we were taking a walk one evening.
An elderly woman in a library | Source: Pexels
“I’m sure your mom cannot wait to have the house back,” he said.
“Actually,” I replied. “I think she enjoys having people there. She always said that it was too quiet with just her and Linda.”
“Yeah, I get that,” he said. “But my parents can be a lot.”
A couple taking a walk | Source: Pexels
It was as if my husband had spoken it into existence.
One day, as I went over to my mother’s house with pastries, I found her looking upset.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her immediately.
Pastries in a box | Source: Pexels
“Cameron’s parents,” she began slowly. “They’ve been hinting about a nursing home for me. I heard them talk about it last night, too.”
“Mom, do you want me to ask them to leave? They’re crossing the line,” I said, worried about her well-being.
A woman holding her face | Source: Unsplash
“Oh, honey,” she said, a mysterious smile forming on her face. “I’ll take care of everything, don’t you worry.”
A few days later, my mother-in-law called us crying.
“How could Tanya do that to us?” she asked.
A crying old woman | Source: Pexels
Apparently, my mother had told them to pack their things and move to the first floor because she was ready to move into a nursing home. She said that she needed the help and that she wanted to live a little easier.
Cameron’s parents thought that they had won the battle they created.
A healthcare facility | Source: Unsplash
Instead, my mother had called social services, telling them that she had two individuals who were living with her temporarily but needed the help.
The next day, people from social services arrived at my mother’s doorstep, ready to take Jessica and Roger away to their social housing facilities.
A person holding a phone | Source: Pexels
They were livid.
Cameron and I met them at my mother’s house because they demanded an audience.
“This is outrageous! We thought we were moving downstairs, not out of the house!” my mother-in-law shrieked.
An angry old woman | Source: Pexels
“How dare she trick us like this! We have done everything for her these past few months,” my father-in-law added.
Beside me, my husband flinched. He was caught in the middle, not knowing what to do or how to react.
“You took advantage of her kindness and tried to push her into a nursing home. You got what you deserved,” I retorted, barely containing my own anger at their words.
An angry old man | Source: Pexels
“You can’t just throw us out like this!” my mother-in-law protested.
“You’ve got a little place to live now,” my mother said, smiling. “But also, that’s not my problem. I helped you out, and you did nothing but complain. You didn’t want to be here. You were just here because you had no choice. Now, you can learn to fend for yourselves.”
Jessica was appalled. I don’t think she expected my mother to retaliate in that way.
A smiling woman in a wheelchair | Source: Unsplash
It was true, social services housed them in a little apartment which was close to both their jobs. They would be absolutely fine until they chose to move elsewhere.
As they left, they continued to curse, but it was clear that they had been defeated by the whole episode.
A small apartment | Source: Unsplash
“I’m sorry,” my husband told my mother when we settled her down again. “This was all my fault.”
It took a while for my mother to calm him down and make him realize that nothing was his fault.
“Your parents needed a place to stay, and they were welcome to do so here, but they continued to complain. They made life difficult here. Everything was a problem,” she said.
An upset man | Source: Unsplash
I continued to work my way around the kitchen while they spoke. I knew that my husband needed a pick-me-up, so I made his favorite Indian dishes, hoping that it would do the trick.
If I had to admit it, I also felt like it was my fault. I should have objected to the move in the first place. But I knew that my in-laws needed a place to live when they lost their homes. And maybe it was because of guilt.
A plate of food | Source: Unsplash
Guilt born from the mere fact that Cameron and I couldn’t do it ourselves, that we both had allowed them to live with my mother.
As we got into bed that night, I told my husband that we needed to see his parents. We needed to make sure that they were okay, despite their horrible behavior, they needed to know that we still cared.
A couple lying together | Source: Unsplash
The following day, we met them at their new apartment. It was a quaint little place, but it was just enough for the two of them. As we walked in, there were boxes lying everywhere and the smell of burnt toast permeated the air.
“I didn’t check the toaster setting,” Roger said, as his way of explaining.
Opened cardboard boxes | Source: Midjourney
We ended up taking them to a café for lunch, where they admitted to their behavior.
“We were in the wrong,” my mother-in-law said. “We know that now. We saw an easy way to live with Tanya, and we just wanted more. But now, we have to make it work for ourselves.”
An interior of a coffee shop | Source: Unsplash
I dug into my pancakes while Cameron let his parents have a piece of his mind. He went on about how they needed to be responsible for their actions and that nothing would make up for their behavior toward my mother.
“You embarrassed me. And you took advantage of my wife’s mother,” he said. “Do you know how that makes me feel?”
A stack of pancakes | Source: Unsplash
I allowed him to talk his way through it, while his parents continued to eat their eggs benedict in silence.
As we drove home, my husband stopped to get my mother a bouquet of flowers.
“She deserves it,” he said.
A bouquet of flowers | Source: Unsplash
What would you have done?
Rude Sales Assistant in Jewelry Store Mocked My Grandma — The Lesson I Taught Her Was Priceless
My grandma went to a renowned jewelry store to pick out rings for her 50th wedding anniversary. Instead of returning home with a smile, she was in tears after a rude saleswoman had insulted her. My blood boiled, so I decided to teach that arrogant woman an unforgettable lesson.
So, here’s a little story about my grandma Gracie and grandpa Jamie. They were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary next month and decided to renew their vows. Cute, right?
When they first got married, they couldn’t afford wedding rings. So, this vow renewal was extra special as they were finally going to get their first wedding rings. I was thrilled for these two lovebirds!
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Now, I wanted to make their anniversary super special. But, here’s the thing: I was swamped with work and stuck in a client meeting.
So, I begged my grandma to go to the jewelry store herself to pick the best wedding rings. I planned to buy them the next day as a surprise gift.
“Grams, just choose the rings and take some pics, alright?” I urged her. “You’ll find something beautiful, I know it!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Oh, Rachel, this is going to be wonderful. I promise I’ll find the perfect rings,” she said, her voice trembling with happiness.
Seeing her so thrilled melted my heart. I watched her leave with a spring in her step, humming a soft tune, and I couldn’t help but smile.
This meant the world to her, and I trusted she’d find something that would make their day even more memorable.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Later that evening, I came home smiling, expecting to hear all about the rings Grandma Gracie had chosen.
The first thing I did upon reaching home was run to her, expecting she would start chirping about the rings she loved.
Instead, I found my grandma looking upset, her eyes wet with tears.
“Grandma, what happened?” I asked, my heart sinking.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
She took a deep breath, her voice shaking as she revealed, “Rachel, I went to that fancy jewelry store downtown, and I found a ring I adored. I asked the sales assistant, a young woman named Cara, if I could try it on.”
“What did she say?” I pressed.
“She looked at me with such disdain,” Grandma said, her eyes welling up again.
“She said, ‘Oh, just watch it, old lady! Don’t touch it with your clammy hands. Only people who can afford such jewelry can try it on! Judging by your looks, you certainly don’t look like you could buy this expensive Harry Winston piece!’”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
My blood boiled. “She said that to you?? How dare she!” I fumed.
Grandma nodded, wiping her tears. “I felt so humiliated, Rachel. I just wanted to find a ring for our special day.”
Besides insulting my grandma, that rude woman had told her to take her hands off the glass case, claiming she’d dirtied it, and wiped it in front of her and the other shoppers.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
My poor grandma told me she left the store in tears, feeling utterly embarrassed and broken.
That was it. My blood started to boil. How dare they treat her like that?
I decided then and there that this arrogant sales assistant needed to learn a valuable lesson she’d never forget.
So, I came up with a perfect plan.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The next day, I took the day off work and dressed in my best outfit. I went to the bank and withdrew a substantial amount of cash.
Think five figures, enough to blind that mean salesperson with a dazzling possibility of a commission she wouldn’t soon forget.
Then, I headed to the same jewelry store my grandma had visited, but I didn’t go alone. I brought along a few friends to help me put my plan into action.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Freepik
“Rachel, are you sure about this?” my friend Emily asked as we walked towards the store.
“Absolutely. No one treats my grandma like that and gets away with it,” I said, nodding.
Pushing open the door, I scanned the store. Bingo! There she was, the name tag gleaming with the word “Cara” in bold letters, almost as bright as her fake smile and her yellow suit.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I approached the counter, cash in hand. “Excuse me, I’d like to see your finest wedding rings,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear, especially Cara.
The snooty sales assistant came rushing to me the moment she saw me and my dressed-up appearance.
She greeted me with a fake smile, clearly judging me by my looks, and chirped, “Welcome, ma’am. How can I assist you today?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I returned her smile with a smirk. “Just browsing,” I said nonchalantly, walking around the store. “I want the best wedding rings.”
Cara looked at me, then at the cash. Her eyes widened, and she plastered on a fake smile, saying, “Of course, ma’am. Right this way.”
She followed closely, bragging about the fine finish and beauty of each piece. Her voice was a droning noise in the background, and I was already bored.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
Finally, I stopped and looked directly at her. “Enough with the sermons. Show me your best engagement rings.”
She led me to the ring section with an eager nod, pointing out various pieces. “This one is exquisite, and this one has…”
I interrupted, “No, show me that Harry Winston piece.” I pointed to the exact ring my grandma had liked the previous day.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Cara’s eyes widened as she exclaimed, “Ah, an excellent choice, ma’am!” She took out the ring and held it delicately.
I looked at it for a moment, then at her. “Let me see it up close,” I said.
As she handed me the ring, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. She had no idea what was coming next.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Perfect,” I said, examining the ring. “I’ll take it.”
Her eyes lit up with greed. “Excellent choice, ma’am. Would you like to see any other pieces?” she cooed.
I tried it on and acted impressed. “Beautiful! Oh, I need another one for my grandpa.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Cara’s eyes literally lit up with dollar signs. She quickly found a matching ring for my grandpa and showed it to me.
As I examined the piece, I saw her demeanor was completely different from how she had treated my grandma.
I pulled out the cash and paid for the rings on the spot. She was all smiles and kept telling me what a great choice I’d made and bla bla bla.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Excellent choices, ma’am. These rings are simply stunning. Your grandparents will be thrilled,” she gushed, clearly pleased with the hefty sale.
I smiled back because the showtime was just about to begin. “Thank you. I’m sure they will love them,” I replied, my voice sugary sweet.
“Is there anything else I can help you with today?” she asked, her eyes still shining with greed.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I paused for a moment, savoring the impending reveal. “Actually, there is something,” I said, my tone shifting slightly.
Cara’s smile faltered. “Oh? What’s that?”
I leaned in, lowering my voice. “You’ll see.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I looked around and saw my friends, who were dressed as secret shoppers and potential customers, spread out around the store. I coughed, a secret hint to them to get into action.
They each approached the sales assistant, asking to see various expensive items, pretending to be very interested.
This kept her busy and distracted while I executed the next part of my plan.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I went outside to the parking lot where my grandma was sitting in my car and returned to the store with her.
She was a little nervous and clutched her purse tightly. “Rachel, I don’t want to get humiliated again by the jewelry store staff,” she nervously said.
I offered her a reassuring smile and replied, “Don’t worry, Grandma. You’re in for a little surprise. Just watch.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
She looked at me, confused and anxious. “Honey, what’s going on?” she asked.
I winked at her and said, “Trust me. You’ll see!”
We walked back to the store. My friends were doing a fantastic job keeping Cara occupied. I showed my Grandma the same ring section, right where it all began.
She glanced up and started following me, quite intrigued and unsure of what was about to happen.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I told my grandma to go straight to the ring section, sit on the stool, and try on the ring in the blue velvet box on the table.
“I’ll be back in five minutes,” I assured her.
You see, it was the ring I’d just bought, waiting to be gift-wrapped. Grandma was nervous, but I nudged her.
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She approached the ring section, opened the velvet box, and tried the diamond ring on.
Right on cue, the sales assistant noticed this and stormed over, her blazing eyes speaking volumes.
“You? What are you doing in here, hobo? How dare you touch this ring with your pathetic hands?” she barked at my grandma.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
This was it. My plan had worked! I gave a grand appearance from the doorway and loudly announced, “There you are, Grandma! I have a surprise for you! I bought the rings you loved so much. Did you like them?”
The sales assistant’s face went pale as she turned to my grandma, her eyes now filled with regret and shock. She started to stammer an apology, but I cut her off.
“Shut up! How dare you insult my grandma?” I snapped, my voice echoing in the store.
Cara looked like she wanted to disappear. “I-I didn’t know…”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“That’s right. You didn’t know,” I interrupted. “You judged my grandma by her appearance and treated her like dirt. You should be ashamed.”
My grandma, still holding the ring, looked at me, her eyes wide. “Rachel, what’s going on?” she gasped.
I took a deep breath and said, “Just a lesson in respect, Grandma. Something this store desperately needed.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The sales assistant started trembling as everyone in the store, including my friends disguised as shoppers, flocked around us.
“You know,” I said loud enough for everyone in the store to hear, “this is the same grandma you refused to help and humiliated yesterday because you thought she couldn’t afford anything. Well, I just bought two of the most expensive rings in the store for her.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Cara’s face turned a sickly shade of white when I took out my phone and showed the video I had recorded, blurting out:
“Oh, by the way, your little act is recorded on my phone and is just a click away from going viral! I hope you will now learn the importance of respect and stop judging people by their appearance!”
The crowd murmured, and some even shook their heads in disapproval at Cara. Mr. Riley, the manager of the store, heard the commotion and rushed over.
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“What’s going on here?” he asked.
I explained everything that had happened, from the rude treatment to the way the sales assistant had embarrassed my grandma.
The manager’s face flushed with shame. “I am so sorry for this unacceptable behavior,” he said, turning to my grandma. “We deeply apologize and assure you this matter will be dealt with immediately. Please accept a discount on any future purchases as a token of our regret.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
My grandma, still holding the ring, looked overwhelmed but managed a small smile. “Thank you,” she said softly.
But I didn’t stop there.
I immediately took to social media and wrote a detailed review of the store then and there, mentioning the sales assistant by name and recounting the entire incident along with the video I’d captured.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
With a withering look at the woman who hung her head low, I grabbed the rings and proudly led my grandma out of the store. The manager came rushing behind us, pleading for forgiveness. But I ignored him and drove away.
The post went viral, and the store’s reputation took a hit.
A few days later, I received a call from the jewelry store manager. “Ms. Aniston, I’ve called to inform you that our sales assistant Ms. Cara has been let go due to the overwhelming backlash on social media. On behalf of our store, I sincerely apologize and assure you such incidents will never happen again.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The next day, Grandma and I strolled back into the jewelry store.
This time, the manager himself greeted us and said, “Ms. Aniston, Mrs. Parker, please, let me personally apologize again for the other day’s incident. It was completely unacceptable.”
Grandma’s smile was a little wobbly, but her eyes held a spark.
I wrapped my arm around her, a fierce satisfaction settling in my gut. I’d taught that bully of a saleswoman a lesson she wouldn’t soon forget.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
As we walked out, my grandma said with a smile. “Rachel, you didn’t have to do all this… but thank you. You really showed them.”
I smiled back and opening the car door for her, I replied, “No one treats you like that, Grandma. And now, they know it.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Freepik
Not gonna lie, the whole experience was a wild ride. But hey, at least it was a lesson learned the hard way: appearances can be deceiving, and kindness goes a long way. Plus, the internet never forgets!
The best part, though? Grandma never lost her sparkle, and we found the perfect rings for her vow renewal. After all, sometimes the best revenge is a killer pair of diamond rings and justice served with a little bit of internet sass on the side! What do you think?
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
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