When Jeremy and his wife, Nina, returned home from their relaxing vacation, they were ready to unwind. Maybe they’d sip some wine, watch a movie, and just enjoy the peaceful comfort of their home. But nothing prepared them for what they were about to find.
As soon as they walked into the living room, Jeremy’s heart sank. The place looked like a disaster zone. Beer cans were scattered everywhere, piles of dirty clothes were heaped on the couch, and the smell—it was unbearable. But the worst part? Sprawled out on the couch like he owned the place was Jeremy’s older brother, Ted.
“Ted, what the hell?” Jeremy blurted out, unable to keep his cool any longer. “What is this? Why are you in my house?”
Nina, his wife, stood frozen in the doorway, eyes wide with disbelief. She glanced around the living room, her face turning red with frustration. Jeremy knew that if he didn’t take care of this quickly, he’d be dealing with an angry wife, too.
Ted casually looked up, as if nothing was wrong. “Oh, hey, Jeremy. Mom and Dad thought it’d be easier for me to just move in while you were gone. I mean, you’ve got all this space, and it’s not like you’re using it, right? You and Nina are always working or out of town.”
Jeremy’s jaw dropped. “You moved in? You just… moved into my house without asking?”
Ted shrugged nonchalantly and stretched out on the couch. “Yeah, so what? I needed a place to stay, and I figured you wouldn’t say yes. So, we skipped that part. Don’t be such a buzzkill, Jeremy. Help a brother out.”
Jeremy’s blood started to boil. His brother had always been a freeloader, and now he’d taken over Jeremy’s house? This was too much.
Before he could say anything else, his phone rang. Of course, it was his mom.
“Mom, did you and Dad seriously let Ted move into my house while I was away?” Jeremy asked, trying to stay calm.
From the background, Ted shouted, “Why are you using my full name?”
Jeremy ignored him, focusing on the call. “Mom?”
“Oh, don’t make a big deal out of this, Jeremy,” his mom replied, completely unbothered. “Ted needed a place to stay, and you’ve got all that room. You don’t even have kids yet. So what’s the harm in helping out your brother?”
Jeremy took a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check. “Mom, he’s 42 years old. He’s not a kid. Why do you keep treating him like one? And why is it always on me to fix things for him?”
His mom’s tone shifted, but not in a good way. “Oh, so now you think he’s just mooching off us? You’ve always had everything together, Jeremy. Ted needs a little more help, and as family, you owe it to him.”
Jeremy’s frustration bubbled over. Ted had two kids with two different women—and he didn’t even help support them. How was he supposed to feel sorry for his brother?
Before he could respond, his dad took the phone. “Jeremy, stop being selfish. You’ve got the house, the wife, the money. What’s the big deal? Ted is your brother. He’s staying.”
That was the last straw. “It’s not about the space, Dad,” Jeremy said, voice steady. “It’s about respect. Ted can’t just move in here without asking. Nina and I worked hard for our home. And now she has to deal with this too?”
From the couch, Ted let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, come on. It’s just a house. Quit making a big deal out of it.”
Jeremy’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve been living off Mom and Dad for years, Ted. Why would I think you’d change here? Why not stay with one of your kids?”
Ted shot back without missing a beat. “Because I’m family. Why do you always act like I’m a stranger? Mom and Dad said you’d be like this, but I didn’t think you’d be this bad.”
Jeremy gritted his teeth. “Fine, Ted. You want to stay? Let’s see how that works out.”
But as soon as he went upstairs to explain everything to Nina, things took a sharp turn. Nina was furious.
“Jeremy, you’re not serious about this, are you?” she said, packing her suitcase as she spoke. “I can’t stand your brother. I’m going to my sister’s, and I’m staying there until you fix this.”
Jeremy’s heart sank. “Nina, please. I’ll make this right, I promise.”
But Nina wasn’t having it. “You’ve got one week. Get him out, or I’m gone. I can’t do this.”
With that, Nina left. Jeremy now had a bigger incentive to get Ted out, and he wasn’t going to do it with anger. He had a plan.
First, he shut off the Wi-Fi. Ted, who spent his days glued to his phone, was now stuck in a house with no internet.
When Ted complained, Jeremy smiled sweetly. “Oh, the Wi-Fi? It’s been spotty. Sorry about that.”
Next, Jeremy turned off the hot water. Ted loved his long, lazy showers, but now he was stuck with cold water every time.
“Must be something wrong with the plumbing,” Jeremy said innocently.
Then, he stocked the fridge with nothing but tofu, vegetables, and the healthiest food he could find. Ted hated anything healthy. Every time Ted opened the fridge, he groaned.
“You’re family, right?” Jeremy would say with a grin. “I’m sure you can deal with it. It’s for my health.”
To top it off, Jeremy started playing loud music every morning at 6 a.m. while he exercised on the treadmill. Ted had nowhere to hide from the noise.
By day five, Ted was on the edge. He stormed into the living room.
“Jeremy, man, this is BS!” Ted shouted. “I can’t stay here. No Wi-Fi, no hot water, and no food I like. This is torture.”
Jeremy shrugged. “I thought you’d be grateful. You’re not paying rent or contributing anything. What’s the problem?”
Ted stormed out, dragging his stuff behind him. Jeremy couldn’t help but smile. Ted was finally gone.
But the victory wasn’t complete. Jeremy cleaned the house, restocked the fridge with real food, and called Nina.
“Come home, honey,” he said with a smile.
“I’ll be home soon,” she replied, her voice warm.
Before Nina returned, Jeremy made one last call to his parents.
“Mom, Dad, Ted is out. He’s your problem again,” he said calmly.
His mom was furious. “Jeremy, you can’t just kick him out! Where will he go?”
“That’s up to Ted,” Jeremy replied. “He’s 42. If you want to keep babying him, fine. But I’m done.”
Later, Jeremy heard that Ted had moved back into their parents’ house, but they made him transform the garage into his living space and get a job. Ted wasn’t happy, but Jeremy didn’t care. He and Nina had their peace back.
And as for Ted? Well, he’d have to learn the hard way.
