I should have known my birthday was going to be a disaster the moment I saw my niece and nephew whispering like little rascals, their eyes fixed on me. But nothing could have prepared me for the audacity that followed.
The morning had started off perfectly – fresh locks, flawless makeup, and a dress that made me feel like me . I was turning 30 and I deserved to feel special.
A happy woman surrounded by decorations celebrating her birthday | Source: Midjourney
The backyard hummed with the sound of sizzling barbecue and clinking glasses. My dad tended the grill, my mom worked on the side dishes, and my brother, Mark, stood off to the side, a beer in his hand, laughing on his phone.
And then there were Mark’s children.
Ava and Lily were running wild, yelling and shoving guests. I saw them jostle my elderly neighbor, Mrs. Thompson, by the pool. She barely caught herself on a chair, panting.
Children by the pool, making fun of an elderly woman | Source: Midjourney
I immediately turned to their mother, Jessica. Surely she was going to say something? Instead, she just laughed. As for Mark, he chuckled, without even looking up.
I clenched my jaw. Breathe, Liv. It’s your birthday. Ava and Lily huddled together, whispering and giggling. Ava held a phone in her hand, clearly recording. Ethan crouched slightly, like a sprinter ready to take off.
That’s when I realized. They were going to push me . My eyes flicked to Jessica. She saw them and just… smiled. I took a deep breath and decided to play along. The second they lunged, I took a step to the side.
SPLASH.
Children with shocking expressions lose their balance and fall into a swimming pool, their arms flailing in the air. | Source: Midjourney
Ava and Lily fell into the pool, arms dangling, eyes wide with shock.
Silence. Then…
“HOW COULD YOU LET THEM DOWN?! “
Jessica’s scream cut through the party. She came rushing in, her face red, her eyes fixed on me as if I had committed a crime.
I blinked. “Let them down? They tried to push me.”
She didn’t even look at the children. She didn’t check if they were okay. Her hands flew to her head.
“Their iPhones!!!” she said. “Do you have any idea how much they cost?”
I looked at her. “Maybe you should have watched your kids instead of laughing?”
A calm and collected woman who remains firm while talking to her aggressive sister-in-law | Source: Midjourney
Mark finally looked up, saw the dripping children, and sighed. “This sucks.”
I handed Ava and Lily towels, but Jessica was still angry. “It’s your fault, Olivia! You knew they’d fall!”
I let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, and you knew they were going to push me. Should I have let them?”
Jessica scoffs, shaking her head. “Unbelievable.”
“No, you are, Jessica,” I replied.
I turned around, grabbed my glass and took a long sip.
Happy fucking birthday to me!
Woman holding a glass of champagne while celebrating her birthday | Source: Midjourney
The morning after my disastrous birthday, I woke up groggy, still annoyed by everything that had happened. I grabbed my phone and squinted at the screen, hoping to find a funny meme or a belated birthday message. Instead, I saw a message from Jessica .
It was a connection.
Curious, I clicked on it and my eyes widened. It was an Apple store page that was offering two brand new iPhones, the most expensive and high-end models . My stomach dropped as I scrolled down to see the price.
A woman in cozy pajamas sits in bed scrolling through her phone with a focused expression | Source: Midjourney
Then his message appeared.
Jessica: Since you let them down, you have to replace them. It’s your fault.
I sat up, blinking in disbelief. Is this a joke?
Me: You’re not serious.
The text bubbles appeared almost instantly.
Jessica: You’re an adult. You should have let them push you inside. It’s not like you’re going to melt.
I let out a dry, humorless laugh. The absolute audacity . She really thought I was responsible for her kids’ phones because I didn’t let them push me into the pool?
I was done playing the good guy.
Woman texting on her phone | Source: Midjourney
Me: Don’t you dare try to make me feel guilty.
She didn’t answer.
I took this as a victory, threw my phone on the nightstand and continued with my day, thinking this ridiculous situation was over.
I was wrong. The next afternoon, there was a ring at my door. I opened it and found Jessica standing there.
With balloons .
For a split second, I thought she might have come to apologize, maybe even make amends for the way she had acted. But then I noticed the car behind her—Mark was unloading decorations from the trunk.
A serious woman stands at the door, holding balloons. In the background, a man opens the trunk of a car, concentrating on unloading. | Source: Midjourney
That’s when I remembered. Weeks ago, before everything fell apart, we had agreed that I would throw Ava’s birthday party at my house. By the pool.
Jessica’s smile was still as smug as ever. “Why do you look so confused? We’re here for the party!”
My blood is boiling.
I cross my arms. “Do you seriously think you can ask me for money one day and show up expecting me to throw your kid’s party the next?”
Jessica sighed dramatically as if I were the one being difficult. “Well, yeah,” she said as if it were obvious. “You still owe us the phones, but that ’s separate .”
Women having a tense conversation | Source: Midjourney
I let out a high-pitched, humorless laugh. “Oh, it’s separate? You mean, like my home and my generosity are separate from your rights?” I took a step back and pointed down the street. “Get out of here.”
His smug look disappeared instantly.
Jessica’s face twisted in frustration. “You’re a b-“ She caught herself, glancing at Ava next to her before adjusting her tone. “This is for my daughter! You’re punishing her for a harmless prank!”
I shrugged. “No, you punished her. You wanted me to be the bad guy? Fine. I’ll play the part.”
And with that, I slammed the door in his face.
Distressed woman stands on doorstep as stern sister-in-law orders her to get out | Source: Midjourney
I stood in my doorway, arms crossed, watching Jessica unravel in my driveway. She was still fuming, her voice high with indignation, pacing and waving her arms like a madwoman.
“She’s so selfish! She ruined everything !” she shouted, aware that the neighbors were watching her.
Mark, still silent, awkwardly moved closer to the car, pretending not to hear his wife’s tantrum. Ava, poor thing, just looked confused, probably wondering why her birthday party wasn’t happening. The decorations for her party were still in their trunk.
That’s when I noticed movement across the street.
Woman looking out the window | Source: Midjourney
Mrs. Thompson, my elderly neighbor, approached confidently. Her hands were not empty. In her hand was her phone, raised just enough so that Jessica could see the screen.
Jessica froze in the middle of her speech. Her face went completely pale. Mrs. Thompson didn’t speak right away. She just let Jessica watch. And whatever was on that screen, Jessica’s whole world collapsed. Her hands clenched into fists. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to argue, but no sound came out.
Mrs. Thompson finally turned around and knocked on my door.
Elderly woman knocking on a door | Source: Midjourney
“Hello, Mrs. Thompson,” I greeted, raising an eyebrow.
She smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “She won’t bother you about the phones anymore.”
I glanced at Jessica, who now looked like she was going to sink into the sidewalk.
“Oh?” I said, smiling. “And why is that?”
Ms. Thompson smiled, lowering her voice just enough to make it sound like an inside joke. “I’m just letting her know that I also have a cute little video of her kids trying to push me into the pool. And if she keeps messing with her phone, well… I’ll be happy to go to the police.”
A young woman and an elderly woman in deep conversation | Source: Midjourney
I let out a laugh, and Mrs. Thompson chuckled along with me. “Of course, we wouldn’t do that in real life,” she added innocently. “But you should have seen his face.”
Jessica didn’t argue. She didn’t yell. She didn’t even look at me . She just turned around, grabbed Ava’s hand, and stormed off.
Mark mumbled a quiet “Let’s go” and hurried after her. They threw the decorations in the trunk, slammed the doors, and within seconds their car was out of my driveway.
For the first time, Jessica had nothing to say.
I turned to Mrs. Thompson, shaking my head in amusement. “You might be my favorite neighbor.”
She winked at me. “I know, dear.”
A young woman and an elderly woman in deep conversation | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, the family group chat was flooded with messages. My mother, ever the peaceful one, tried to smooth things over. My father stayed out of it all, probably enjoying his coffee in peace. Mark sent a half-hearted text that meant absolutely nothing.
Jessica? Not a word.
But as I finished my morning coffee, a new message appeared.
Jessica: Ava’s party was a disaster because of you. I hope you’re happy.
I stared at him for a second, then smiled.
Me: Oh, I am. Thanks for checking.
Woman standing in her kitchen while texting on her phone | Source: Midjourney
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This work is inspired by real events and persons, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and is not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims as to the accuracy of events or portrayal of characters and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and all opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the opinions of the author or publisher.
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