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When my father-in-law Richard bulldozed my beloved garden for his unauthorized pool, I was livid. But as the saying goes, karma works in mysterious ways. What unfolded next was a whirlwind of unexpected events that turned his dream project into a nightmare. I never thought I’d see the day when karma would come knocking, but boy, did it ever. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in, because this story is a wild ride from start to finish. First, let me introduce myself. I’m Linda, a 40-year-old high school English teacher living with my husband Tom and my father-in-law Richard. Tom and I have been married for 15 wonderful years, and we’ve been together since college. Life was pretty smooth sailing until about two years ago when Richard moved in with us after my mother-in-law passed away. Now, Richard isn’t exactly the easiest person to live with. He’s got opinions on everything and thinks he knows best about, well, everything. Our relationship has always been a bit strained, but I’ve tried my best to make it work for Tom’s sake. Still, living under the same roof has been… challenging, to say the least. Tom and I don’t have children, so for years, I’d poured my heart and soul into our backyard instead. It was my little piece of heaven: a lush lawn surrounded by colorful flower beds that I’d nurtured from seedlings. Gardening became my passion, my escape, my way to unwind after a long day of teaching moody teenagers. Every weekend and spare moment, you’d find me out there, tending to my plants, watching them grow and bloom. It was more than just a hobby; it was what kept me busy, happy, and sane. But Richard? He had other plans for my sanctuary. It started innocently enough. One evening, as we were finishing dinner, Richard cleared his throat. “Linda, Tom, I’ve been thinking.” I shared a look with Tom. Those words from Richard usually meant trouble. “The backyard,” Richard continued, “it’s just sitting there. We should put in a pool.” I nearly choked on my water. “A pool? Richard, where would we even put it? The yard isn’t that big.” He waved his hand dismissively. “We’ll make it fit. You know, I get bored when you two are at work. A pool would be perfect for me and my friends. Especially during these hot summer days.” Tom, bless him, tried to reason with his father. “Dad, Linda’s put a lot of work into the garden. You can’t just remove all the beautiful flowers there. Plus, a pool is a big expense and responsibility. I don’t think you can manage it.” But Richard wasn’t having it. For weeks, he’d bring it up at every opportunity. “Linda, imagine how nice it would be to cool off on hot days,” or “Tom, think of the pool parties we could have!” I stood my ground. “Richard, I’m sorry, but it’s just not practical. The yard is too small, and I love my garden. I can’t let you dig up a pool there. It’s not happening.” I thought that was the end of it. But I was wrong. It was just the beginning. One weekend, Tom and I decided to visit my parents. It was a nice break from Richard’s constant pool talk. We left early Saturday morning, planning to return Sunday evening. As we pulled into our driveway that Sunday after having a great time with my parents, I knew something was wrong. The front yard was a mess, with muddy tire tracks everywhere. My stomach lurched as we rounded the corner to the backyard. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Where my beautiful garden had once stood was now an enormous hole. Piles of dirt surrounded it, and most of my carefully tended flowers had disappeared. In the middle of it all stood Richard, grinning like he’d just won the lottery. “Oh, finally decided to come back, have you?” he sneered. “I’ve started the pool for you. No need to thank me.” I was speechless. Tom, on the other hand, exploded. “Dad! What the hell were you thinking? We told you not to do this!” Richard just shrugged. “You’ll thank me when it’s done. I got a great deal on the diggers.” I felt tears welling up in my eyes. My hard work was destroyed in a single weekend by my own father-in-law. Why couldn’t he understand how much I loved my plants? Why did he ruin my beautiful garden? When Tom noticed my silent sobs, he put his arm around me and led me inside. “I’ll deal with him, Linda. Please don’t worry about it,” he said. “I won’t let him build a pool there. And your plants… I’ll hire a professional gardener and restore the backyard like you want it to be. Okay? Please don’t cry.” The next morning, I woke up hoping it had all been a bad dream. But one look out the window confirmed the nightmare was real. The diggers were back. As they continued their work, karma decided to pay Richard a visit and that’s when I spotted our neighbor, Mrs. Jensen, walking her little dog Buster… (continue reading in the 1st comment)⤵️
I wanted to surprise my son by visiting his restaurant. I wore a simple, neat dress. An arrogant woman asked me to move, pointing out my attire as unsuitable for such a place. Humiliating! The next day, my son introduced his fiancée. Can you guess who was standing at the door? ==== I have always lived for my son, saving every penny and living frugally. My life was simple and unadorned. I lived in a modest home, wearing the same clothes year after year, and never spending money on luxuries. I had raised him alone, pouring all my energy and resources into his education and future. John had grown up to be intelligent and hardworking, and he had opened his own business, making me incredibly proud. That day, I decided to surprise my son, John, by visiting his new restaurant. Dressed in my simple yet neat outfit, I stepped off the bus and entered the restaurant, deciding to have a modest cup of tea while waiting for my son. The restaurant was bustling with activity, the clinking of cutlery and the soft murmur of conversations creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere. I chose a cozy table by the window, appreciating the sunlight streaming in. As I sat there, sipping my tea and admiring the décor, a young woman with a smug expression approached my table. Her designer clothes and confident stride immediately caught my attention. “Excuse me,” she said, her tone condescending. This table is reserved for my boyfriend and me. You’ll have to move.” I looked up, surprised and a bit confused. “Oh, I didn’t realize,” I replied politely. “There wasn’t a reservation sign on the table.” She raised an eyebrow, her smile more of a smirk. “That doesn’t matter. This table is meant for someone dressed a bit more… appropriately. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself or anyone else.” Her words stung. I felt humiliated but didn’t want to cause a scene. I quietly gathered my things and left the restaurant. As I walked to the bus stop, my mind raced with thoughts about the situation. How could someone make me feel so insignificant in a place that represented my son’s hard work and success? On the bus ride home, I couldn’t shake the feeling of humiliation. I had always lived frugally and sacrificed so much to ensure John had a better future. I was made to feel small and unimportant by a stranger. I decided not to mention the incident to John. We had planned to have lunch together, and I didn’t want to spoil the mood with my hurt feelings. The humiliation still gnawed at me, making it hard to think about anything else. My mood was ruined, but I hoped that our meeting the next day would lift my spirits. Little did I know, tomorrow would bring even more unpleasant surprises. *** The following day, I was waiting for John and his girlfriend for lunch. I had spent the morning preparing, wanting everything to be perfect. It was our first meeting, and I wanted to create a pleasant atmosphere. The table was set with my best china, and I had cooked John’s favorite dishes. Nervously, I checked the clock and adjusted the flowers in the vase one more time. When they arrived, my heart sank. I recognized the same young woman who had forced me out of my seat at the restaurant. She recognized me, too, but acted confidently and arrogantly, as if nothing had happened. “Hi, Mom!” John greeted me with a warm hug. “This is Sarah.” “Nice to meet you,” Sarah said, her tone dripping with insincerity. “Nice to meet you too,” I replied, forcing a smile. We sat down to eat, and the atmosphere was tense. John, unaware of the tension between Sarah and me, chatted happily about his restaurant and their plans. Sarah chimed in occasionally, her voice always holding that same smug tone. “Mom, I wanted to ask you something,” John said, breaking the awkward silence… (continue reading in the 1st comment)
