Pets n Story

I should have realized something was off the moment my niece and nephew started whispering, their mischievous eyes locked on me. But nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.

The day had been perfect. I’d just gotten fresh highlights, a salon blowout, and flawless makeup. I wore a dress that made me feel like myself—not just someone’s daughter, sister, or aunt. I was turning 30, and I wanted to feel special.

The backyard was alive with the sounds of sizzling BBQ and clinking glasses. My dad manned the grill, my mom fussed over the side dishes, and my brother, Mark, stood off to the side, beer in hand, laughing at something on his phone.

Then there were Mark’s kids—Ava and Lily.

They ran wild, shrieking and shoving past guests. My stomach tightened as I watched them nearly knock over Mrs. Thompson, my elderly neighbor, near the pool. She barely caught herself, gasping as she steadied on a chair.

I turned to their mom, Jessica, expecting her to intervene. Instead, she just laughed. “Oh, kids will be kids,” she said dismissively. Mark didn’t even glance up from his phone. I clenched my jaw, reminding myself it was my birthday.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm. Then, I noticed something worse. Ava and Lily were huddled together, whispering and giggling. Ava held up her phone, clearly recording. Ethan crouched slightly, ready to launch forward.

And that’s when I knew—they were planning to push me into the pool.

I shot a glance at Jessica. She saw them. Instead of stopping them, she smirked.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to play along. The moment they lunged, I stepped aside.

SPLASH.

Ava and Lily tumbled into the water, their shocked faces twisting mid-air before they crashed into the pool. Silence fell over the yard.

Then came Jessica’s shriek. “HOW COULD YOU LET THEM FALL?!”

Her face burned with rage as she stormed toward me like I had committed a crime.

I blinked, stunned. “Let them? They tried to push me!”

She didn’t even check if her kids were okay. Instead, she clutched her hair in frustration. “Their iPhones!” she wailed. “Do you have any idea how expensive those were?”

I stared at her, dumbfounded. “Maybe you should’ve been watching your kids instead of laughing?”

Mark finally looked up, saw the drenched kids, and sighed. “That sucks.”

I handed Ava and Lily some towels, but Jessica wasn’t done. “This is your fault, Olivia! You knew they were going to fall!”

I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, and you knew they were going to push me. Should I have just let it happen?”

Jessica scoffed, eyes wide with disbelief. “Unbelievable.”

“No, you are, Jessica,” I snapped, my patience gone.

I grabbed my drink, took a long sip, and tried to enjoy what was left of my birthday.

The Next Morning

I woke up still irritated from the night before. Hoping for a distraction, I grabbed my phone, expecting a meme or a belated birthday wish. Instead, I found a text from Jessica.

It was a link.

Curious, I clicked it—and my stomach dropped. It was the Apple store page, showing two brand-new iPhones. The latest models. My eyes widened as I scrolled down to see the price.

Then, a message popped up.

Jessica: Since YOU let them fall, YOU need to replace these. It’s YOUR fault.

I stared at my screen in disbelief. Was she serious?

Me: You can’t be serious.

The typing bubbles appeared immediately.

Jessica: You’re an adult. You should’ve just let them push you in. It’s not like you’d melt.

I let out a humorless laugh. The audacity. She actually thought I was responsible for her kids’ phones because I didn’t let them shove me into the pool?

I was done playing nice.

Me: Don’t you dare try to make me feel guilty.

No response.

I took that as a win and tossed my phone aside, thinking that was the end of it.

I was wrong.

The Next Afternoon

The doorbell rang. When I opened it, there stood Jessica—holding balloons.

For a second, I thought she had come to apologize. Then I spotted Mark unloading decorations from the trunk, and it hit me. Weeks ago, I had agreed to host Ava’s birthday party. By the pool.

Jessica’s smug smile widened. “Why do you look so confused? We’re here for the party!”

My blood boiled.

I folded my arms. “You seriously think you can demand money from me one day and then show up expecting me to host your kid’s party the next?”

Jessica sighed dramatically. “Well, yeah. You still owe us for the phones, but that’s separate.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, it’s separate? Like how my house and my generosity are separate from your entitlement?” I pointed toward the street. “Get out.”

Her smirk wavered, her face twisting with frustration. “You’re being a b—” She caught herself when she saw Ava beside her and forced a calmer tone. “This is for my daughter! You’re punishing her over a harmless prank!”

I shrugged. “No, you punished her. You wanted me to be the villain? Fine. I’ll play the part.”

I slammed the door in her face.

The Sweetest Justice

Outside, I could hear Jessica ranting in the driveway, voice high-pitched and full of outrage. Mark stood by the car, pretending not to hear. Ava just looked confused, probably wondering why her party wasn’t happening.

Then I noticed movement across the street. Mrs. Thompson was heading toward us, phone in hand, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Jessica froze mid-rant as Mrs. Thompson held up her phone just enough for her to see the screen.

Jessica’s hands clenched into fists. Her mouth opened to argue, but nothing came out.

Mrs. Thompson knocked on my door.

“Hey, Mrs. Thompson,” I greeted, raising an eyebrow.

She smiled warmly. “She won’t be bothering you about the phones anymore.”

I glanced at Jessica, who looked like she wanted to disappear.

“Oh?” I smirked. “And why’s that?”

Mrs. Thompson leaned in and whispered like we were sharing a secret. “I simply let her know I have a lovely video of her kids trying to push me into the pool. And if she keeps pushing this phone nonsense, I’d be happy to take it to the police.”

I burst out laughing, and Mrs. Thompson chuckled with me. “Of course, we wouldn’t actually do that,” she added innocently. “But you should’ve seen her face.”

Jessica didn’t argue. She didn’t yell. She just grabbed Ava’s hand and stormed off. Mark followed, shoving decorations back into the trunk before they peeled out of my driveway, leaving nothing but their shame behind.

For the first time, Jessica had nothing to say.

I turned to Mrs. Thompson, shaking my head. “You might be my favorite neighbor.”

She winked. “I know, dear.”

The Final Blow

The next morning, my family group chat was a mess. My mom, ever the peacemaker, tried to smooth things over. Mark sent a half-hearted apology that meant nothing. But Jessica? Not a word.

Then, just as I was finishing my coffee, a new message popped up.

Jessica: Ava’s party was a disaster because of you. Hope you’re happy.

I stared at it for a second, then smiled.

Me: Oh, I am. Thanks for checking.

Me: Don’t you dare try to make me feel guilty.

No response.

I took that as a win and tossed my phone aside, thinking that was the end of it.

I was wrong.

The Next Afternoon

The doorbell rang. When I opened it, there stood Jessica—holding balloons.

For a second, I thought she had come to apologize. Then I spotted Mark unloading decorations from the trunk, and it hit me. Weeks ago, I had agreed to host Ava’s birthday party. By the pool.

Jessica’s smug smile widened. “Why do you look so confused? We’re here for the party!”

My blood boiled.

I folded my arms. “You seriously think you can demand money from me one day and then show up expecting me to host your kid’s party the next?”

Jessica sighed dramatically. “Well, yeah. You still owe us for the phones, but that’s separate.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, it’s separate? Like how my house and my generosity are separate from your entitlement?” I pointed toward the street. “Get out.”

Her smirk wavered, her face twisting with frustration. “You’re being a b—” She caught herself when she saw Ava beside her and forced a calmer tone. “This is for my daughter! You’re punishing her over a harmless prank!”

I shrugged. “No, you punished her. You wanted me to be the villain? Fine. I’ll play the part.”

I slammed the door in her face.

The Sweetest Justice

Outside, I could hear Jessica ranting in the driveway, voice high-pitched and full of outrage. Mark stood by the car, pretending not to hear. Ava just looked confused, probably wondering why her party wasn’t happening.

Then I noticed movement across the street. Mrs. Thompson was heading toward us, phone in hand, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Jessica froze mid-rant as Mrs. Thompson held up her phone just enough for her to see the screen.

Jessica’s hands clenched into fists. Her mouth opened to argue, but nothing came out.

Mrs. Thompson knocked on my door.

“Hey, Mrs. Thompson,” I greeted, raising an eyebrow.

She smiled warmly. “She won’t be bothering you about the phones anymore.”

I glanced at Jessica, who looked like she wanted to disappear.

“Oh?” I smirked. “And why’s that?”

Mrs. Thompson leaned in and whispered like we were sharing a secret. “I simply let her know I have a lovely video of her kids trying to push me into the pool. And if she keeps pushing this phone nonsense, I’d be happy to take it to the police.”

I burst out laughing, and Mrs. Thompson chuckled with me. “Of course, we wouldn’t actually do that,” she added innocently. “But you should’ve seen her face.”

Jessica didn’t argue. She didn’t yell. She just grabbed Ava’s hand and stormed off. Mark followed, shoving decorations back into the trunk before they peeled out of my driveway, leaving nothing but their shame behind.

For the first time, Jessica had nothing to say.

I turned to Mrs. Thompson, shaking my head. “You might be my favorite neighbor.”

She winked. “I know, dear.”

The Final Blow

The next morning, my family group chat was a mess. My mom, ever the peacemaker, tried to smooth things over. Mark sent a half-hearted apology that meant nothing. But Jessica? Not a word.

Then, just as I was finishing my coffee, a new message popped up.

Jessica: Ava’s party was a disaster because of you. Hope you’re happy.

I stared at it for a second, then smiled.

Me: Oh, I am. Thanks for checking.