Our Stepdad Gifted My Mom a Pack of Toilet Paper for Her Birthday — Our Revenge on Him Was Harsh
Despite my stepdad’s constant boasts about being the “man of the house,” I felt it was time to get back at him when his “special gift” for my mom’s birthday was actually a pack of toilet paper. Let’s not forget that someone else ended up in dire need of the gift.
Throughout our entire youth, my stepfather Jeff enjoyed reminding us that he was the household’s primary provider. He would always begin with his standard speech as we got down to eat.
He’d chuckle and add, “You’re lucky I keep this roof over your heads,” He also leaned back in his shabby chair and said it constantly. He loved it more than anything else.
Jane, my mother, usually nodded in agreement. She was the type of lady who would do anything to avoid confrontation. Her childhood had been different from ours, but she wasn’t brought up in the 1950s. For her, remaining silent had become a kind of art.
My siblings, Chloe, Lily, and Anthony, were her children, and we could see that she longed to speak up but refrained. We certainly didn’t think of him as “the king of the castle” or a “real man,” as Jeff also referred to himself.
Yes, we were grateful that he covered all of the expenses when we were growing up. However, that did not justify him treating our mother like a servant and believing he was superior to the others.
We had unsuccessfully attempted to persuade Mom to leave him for years.
As we grew into adults, we all eventually left their home, but my sisters and I still went to see Mom frequently. Anthony checked in every other day, even though he lived on the opposite side of the nation.
We were still concerned about her.
Our visits, in my opinion, were insufficient to fully understand what was happening in that home. I used to sit by myself in my apartment and worry whether Mom would ever break free from this man and if there was anything he could do to help her eventually break free.
Yes, things start to get interesting here.
Jeff just went too far this year. He was always boasting about the “special gift” he had chosen for Mom in the days before her birthday.
“This one’s going to knock her socks off,” he stated with a cheesy smile while they were having supper.
I wanted to think he was real. Perhaps he had at last made the decision to give her the deference she so richly merited. But I knew better in my heart. People like Jeff never changed; Jeff was Jeff.
Naturally, my sisters and I were seated in the living room on the day of my mother’s birthday. Jeff’s eyes were sparkling, and I could tell Mom was hopeful.
My stepdad gave her a large, exquisitely wrapped box after she had opened our gifts. My mom’s face brightened as she slowly undid the ribbon, and he was grinning.
Softly, “Oh, Jeff, you didn’t have to,” she said.
“I did, indeed. Proceed. He leaned forward in his chair and said, “Open it.”
Slowly, relishing the moment, she opened the box. until she noticed the toilet paper inside. Twelve-pack. Four plies. large rolls.
Mom blinked, perplexed.
“It’s really soft. Like you!” Jeff said, laughing and slapping his knee. “And to symbolize your four children, see, four-ply. “Perfect, huh?”
Mom laughed nervously, but I could see that her eyes were sparkling. My sisters and I looked at each other. This was cruel, not simply a lousy joke.
We’d had enough. We needed to take action.
After two days, our plan started to take shape. Being the “big man” and getting free food were two things Jeff cherished. We therefore asked him to join us for a “family dinner” at the Chinese restaurant he always praised.
The notion was planted by my younger sibling, Chloe.
“We’ll go to his preferred location. She grinned and continued, “He won’t suspect a thing.”
The oldest and most sensible of them all, Lily, arched an eyebrow. “And what happens after?”
“Oh, don’t worry,” said Chloe. “We’ll handle it.”
To ensure Jeff wouldn’t miss it, we carefully planned the date and created anticipation.
Chloe said to him softly, “Dinner’s on us this time,”
Jeff’s chest expanded up. “Well, for once, someone else has to pay. I’m happy that being away from home has finally made you realize how well you did thanks to me.”
Internally, we rolled our eyes.
It was a busy night at the restaurant. The room had a pleasant crimson glow from the shiny red lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
As we got down at our seat, I could tell Jeff was hungry because the food from other tables smelled so good.
He wrinkled his nose at the front door and inquired, “When are your mom and Lily getting here?”
“Don’t be concerned. They will arrive shortly. Why don’t we order some dinner anyway? I nodded at Chloe and made a suggestion.
She nodded and began listing the items she wanted, which we had deliberately decided to order: the spiciest mapo tofu on the menu, Kung Pao chicken, and Szechuan beef.
I thought what we had in mind would still work, but Jeff ordered his usual.
A masterpiece of deep browns and flaming reds, each dish was topped with enough chili to make a grown man cry and fresh herbs.
As the waiter completed setting the table, Chloe’s eyes glistened.
“Jeff, you can handle spicy, right?” she said, feigning worry.
Stuck, Jeff remained silent for a moment before nodding rapidly. “I had no idea that you women wanted to tell everyone about everything. I can eat anything, of course. For a true man, nothing is ever too spicy.
My response was, “But use caution with these. They’re quite attractive.
I had a gut feeling that what I said would anger him.
Jeff sneered, “Don’t be ridiculous, Amelia,” and skewered a piece of steak into his mouth with his chopsticks.
To “prove his manliness,” he first let out an exaggerated sigh, but soon his face was redder than the lights above us. He chewed and inhaled through his nose, causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead.
“Everything alright?” Again pretending to be worried, Chloe questioned.
“Yes, yes,” he lied while his mouth was full. “This is good stuff.”
Jeff finished a glass of Coke, and I was certain he wouldn’t go for more, but Chloe and I started eating seriously.
Chloe said, “Oh, it’s not so spicy after all,” with a beautiful smile. She was luring him in.
I grabbed more and nodded.
Jeff started eating more, not to be outdone. When we asked him whether he was okay, he only replied, “This really clears the sinuses, gals,” even though his breathing was suddenly labored.
Nevertheless, he raised his fingers and yelled at the server to get him more Coke.
In a whisper, Chloe said, “He’s going to feel that later.”
“Oh, definitely,” I replied in a whisper while smiling slyly.
Mom and Lily were busy back at the house with a rented U-Haul and movers, while Jeff was busy flaunting his “macho” tolerance for heat.
They got to work loading up Mom’s things, including her beloved chair, clothes, mementos, and even the toaster. I instructed them to take the recliner and Jeff’s specialized tools that Mom had given him over the years by saving money when she could.
The highlight, however, was when Chloe instructed them to take out all of the toilet paper rolls in the house.
When we left the restaurant, Jeff was still upset at Mom and Lily’s absence and was visibly crimson. In order to find out if anything had happened, I simply recommended visiting the house.
Everything was prepared when we got there. The truck was gone already. Lily and Mom, meanwhile, were hiding in the garage.
Jeff entered, followed closely by Chloe and me. He froze after taking only two steps inside the living room.
He barked as he looked around the vacant area, “Where’s my recliner?”
“Gone,” said Chloe nonchalantly, cocking her head. “Mom took what’s hers.”
Jeff’s cheeks flushed once again as he turned to face us, but before he could say anything more, his stomach began to rumble. He stooped a little and gripped his stomach.
“Oh, man, I think that spicy food—” He stopped and glanced around wildly.
“Jeff, is something amiss? With an innocent blink, I answered, “I hope it wasn’t the food.”
Before running down the corridor, he gave me a dagger-like gaze. We heard the bathroom door slam a few moments later.
Jeff’s panicked scream was heard just as Lily and Mom emerged from their hiding place. “What the devil? He shouted, “Where’s all the toilet paper?”
I was at my breaking point.
“We took that along with the recliner!” I yelled, bursting with laughter. “After all, it also belonged to Mom!”
“WHAT?” he retorted.
He didn’t appear to understand, so Mom moved toward the bathroom door. “JEFF, I’M GOING AWAY! “And I grabbed what was rightfully mine,” she yelled fiercely. “Including my dignity.”
From behind the bathroom door, Jeff let out a loud moan. He screamed, “You can’t just leave me like this!”
“WATCH ME!” “Not that you can right now, but enjoy staying in the bathroom all night!” Mom added in response.
I was giggling as my sisters and I looked at one another.
I interpreted Jeff’s grunt and other unpleasant noises as a signal for us to depart. The words “Let’s go, Mom,” I said.
She thanked us, nodded, and left.
Jeff attempted to call her the following day. He repeatedly left voicemails with pathetic justifications and phony apologies.
However, Mom didn’t return the call or answer.
Chloe had a great idea instead.
We sent Jeff a small present on his birthday. Just as meticulously wrapped as the gigantic pack of toilet paper he’d given Mom.
The note was handwritten and said, “For a real man.”
Mom temporarily moved in with Lily, and we all assisted her while she looked for work. When Anthony heard what we had done, he was thrilled and wished he could have been there as well.
I’ve heard that Jeff continues to gripe to everyone who will listen. We are so proud of Mom for finally being able to live her life without his influence.
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