When my wife Nina and I returned from vacation, we expected a quiet evening at home. Instead, we walked into a mess—my brother Ted had moved in without asking, trashing the place. Beer cans, clothes everywhere, and a horrible smell filled the house. Shocked, we learned my parents had told him it was fine to stay. Nina was furious and threatened to leave unless I fixed it fast.
Ted acted like he belonged there, and my parents insisted I “help him out” since we had space. But I had a better plan—no yelling, just smart sabotage. I cut the Wi-Fi, turned off hot water, filled the fridge with tofu, and blasted early morning music. Within days, Ted couldn’t take it anymore and stormed out.
After he left, I cleaned up and cooked Nina’s favorite dinner. She came back home, smiling. Peace returned, and so did our home. It felt good to win without a fight.
Later, I called my parents and told them Ted was their problem now. They were upset, but I didn’t care. He’s 42, not a child. He ended up sleeping in their garage and finally started looking for a job. Nina and I, meanwhile, finally enjoyed the home we worked hard for—without uninvited guests.