You’d think family would be the last to use you, right? That’s what I believed until my cousin Talia started treating me like her personal cleaner. It wasn’t until my dad came up with a clever plan that things finally changed.
You know how everyone has that one cousin who’s a bit much? Well, for me, that’s Talia. I’m Brynn, 25, just out of grad school, and trying to figure out my next step.
I work part-time at a local bookshop, just enough to pay the bills while I search for something better. Honestly, my life’s pretty calm: books, coffee, the occasional walk. I’ve got a small group of friends, and I’m fine with that.
I come from a big family where everyone’s always in each other’s business. And Talia, my cousin who’s a few years older, is right at the heart of it. She’s got this energy that’s almost tiring to be around.
You’d think with her being married to Declan and having Jett, their two-and-a-half-year-old son, she’d have calmed down. But no, not Talia. They live in this tiny basement apartment under her parents’ house. It’s a tight space, but it’s home.
I’d only been there a few times for family gatherings and always felt a bit out of place. I guess I’ve always been more of a listener than a talker in the family, happy to sit back and watch everyone else’s drama.
So, when Talia called me out of the blue one afternoon, sounding panicked, I wasn’t too shocked.
“Brynn, I need a big favor. Can you come over and watch Jett? Something came up, and I’ve got to go, like, now!” Her voice was higher than usual, and I could tell she was rushed.
I glanced at the clock. I had nothing planned. “Yeah, sure, Talia. I’ll be there in ten.”
I mean, why not? Jett’s cute, and I figured it would be a nice change from my usual routine.
When I arrived, I barely had time to knock before the door flew open. Talia and Declan were practically tripping over each other to leave.
“Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Brynn!” Talia blurted out, already halfway out the door.
Declan gave a quick wave, “We owe you one!” and then they were gone, just like that.
Jett, meanwhile, was all smiles, holding up his arms for a hug. “Hey, buddy!” I grinned, picking him up. I didn’t think much about Talia and Declan’s rushed exit.
I was too focused on Jett, his little laugh, his big eyes looking up at me like I was his favorite person in the world.
But then he tugged on my sleeve and said, “Hungry, Bibi.”
“Okay, let’s see what we can find,” I said cheerfully, carrying him to the kitchen.
And that’s when I saw it: the mess. I mean, the place looked like a storm had hit. Dirty dishes piled up, crusted old food, trash spilling out of the bin, and a smell that made me cringe. My heart sank.
“What… happened here?” I mumbled, mostly to myself. Jett just pointed to the fridge, clueless.
“Okay, Jett, let’s, uh, find something to eat,” I said, trying to sound upbeat. But I knew there was no way I was cooking in this mess. So, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
I scrubbed pots, rinsed dishes, wiped counters, tossed out boxes, and cleaned until I could at least see the counter again.
“Wow, they weren’t kidding about needing help,” I muttered. Jett giggled, thinking I was joking, but I was starting to wonder what I’d agreed to.
The next weekend, Talia called again. “Brynn, can you come over? Just for a few hours?”
I hesitated but said, “Sure, I’ll be there.”
But when I got there, it was like reliving the same day. Same mess, maybe worse. Dishes everywhere, trash piling up, food stuck to the stove.
I sighed and started cleaning, enough to make Jett a decent meal, thinking, They must be struggling. It’ll get better soon. But it didn’t.
Week after week, Talia called, and each time, I arrived to find the same chaos. Talia would rush out with a quick “Thank you!” and leave me to deal with the mess.
One Saturday, it was worse than ever; the sink was buried under dishes, and the fridge was practically sealed shut with dirt.
I spent nearly two hours just trying to make a clean spot to cook Jett something simple. As I scrubbed, anger bubbled up inside me. I wasn’t babysitting anymore. It hit me that I was being used as their personal cleaner.
That evening, when I got home, I was furious. My dad noticed right away. “Rough day?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as I tossed my bag down and flopped onto the couch.
I took a deep breath. “Dad, you wouldn’t believe it. Talia keeps asking me to watch Jett, but every time, the place is a wreck. I end up spending more time cleaning than actually taking care of Jett. It’s like she’s using me for free cleaning service!”
Dad listened, nodding slowly. “And you’ve been doing this… how long?”
“Months!” I threw my hands up. “I didn’t want to leave Jett in that mess, but I’m so tired of it.”
“Why haven’t you told her to clean up before you get there?” he asked, his brow wrinkling.
“I don’t know… I didn’t want to seem mean,” I mumbled. “Talia’s always saying how stressed she is, and I didn’t want to add to it.”
Dad leaned back, crossing his arms. “Brynn, you’re helping with Jett, not cleaning their house. You shouldn’t feel bad for not wanting to deal with their mess.”
I nodded, realizing how foolish I’d been for not seeing it sooner. Then I caught that familiar spark in Dad’s eyes: the one he gets when planning something. I had no idea what he was scheming, but I knew it would be good.
Dad leaned in close, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Here’s what we’re going to do,” he whispered like he was sharing a secret plan. “Next time Talia asks you to babysit, say yes. But when it’s time to make supper, I’ll call her mother-in-law and tell her there’s an emergency, and you have to leave.”
I blinked, trying to follow his idea. “And… you want me to just walk out and leave her kitchen like that?”
He grinned wider. “Not quite. I’ll tell her mother-in-law to bring over a pot and some plates but won’t explain why. Let’s see how Talia handles it when she has to face that mess herself.”
I laughed, some of my anger fading. “You’re sneaky, Dad. I like it. But will it actually work?”
Dad just shrugged. “We won’t know unless we try. Sometimes people need to see things from a different view.”
So, the following Saturday, Talia called, just as frantic as before. “Brynn, can you watch Jett again? I know it’s last minute, but—”
“Sure, no problem,” I cut in, trying to sound casual, even though my heart was racing with excitement. I showed up at her place with a smile, played with Jett, and kept glancing at the clock, waiting for Dad’s signal.
Around supper time, I finally got the text from Dad, “Time to go.”
I took a deep breath and turned to Jett. “Hey, buddy, I’ve got to run out for a bit, okay?”
He looked up at me with those big eyes. “You goin’, Bibi?”
“Just for a little while,” I reassured him, feeling a small pang of guilt. I texted Talia, saying I had an emergency and had to leave right away. Then, grabbing my bag, I headed to the door. Just as I stepped outside, I saw Talia’s mother-in-law, Maris, pulling up in her car.
Maris stepped out, frowning, a big pot in one hand, plates in the other. “Brynn? What’s going on? Talia didn’t mention anything about needing a meal,” she said, looking truly puzzled.
I forced a polite smile, trying not to laugh. “I’m so sorry, Maris, but I have to go. Thanks for coming by!” And with that, I hurried away before she could ask more questions.
I could just imagine Maris walking in, finding the kitchen in its usual wreck, and Talia having to explain why it looked like a storm had hit. I practically skipped home, waiting for the fallout.
Not ten minutes after I got home, my phone buzzed. It was Talia, sending a flurry of panicked texts.
“What happened, Brynn? Why didn’t you clean up?” one read.
Then another. “Mom’s here, and she’s mad. What am I supposed to do?”
I decided to let her worry for a bit. I put my phone down, turned to Dad, and gave him a thumbs up. “Mission accomplished.”
Dad chuckled. “I bet she’s freaking out right about now.”
I didn’t reply to Talia’s messages right away. I wanted her to deal with the mess — literally and figuratively — for a little while. Finally, my phone rang, and I picked up, trying to sound innocent. “Hey, Talia! Everything okay?”
Her voice was shaky, a mix of panic and frustration. “Brynn, why did you leave like that? And why didn’t you clean up the kitchen?”
I took a deep breath, keeping my tone calm but firm. “Talia, I’m not your cleaner. I’ve been coming over for weeks, and every time, it’s the same wreck. I agreed to babysit, not clean your whole house. I had to leave, and I thought it was time you dealt with it.”
She was silent for a moment, and then she sighed deeply. “I didn’t realize it was that bad… I just… I’ve been so overwhelmed, and I guess I took you for granted. I’m really sorry, Brynn.”
I softened a little, hearing the real regret in her voice. “I get it, Talia, I do. But you need to understand, this isn’t fair to me. I love Jett, but I can’t keep cleaning up like that every time.”
Talia’s tone changed, more sincere now. “I know. You’re right. I promise it won’t happen again. I’m so sorry.”
We talked a bit more, and she apologized again, sounding truly embarrassed. I told her I forgave her but also made it clear: “If you ever need help in the future, the place has to be clean before I come over. Otherwise, find someone else to watch Jett.”
She agreed right away, “Absolutely, Brynn. I swear, I’ll make sure everything is spotless.”
After we hung up, I turned to Dad, grinning. “Well, I think that did the trick.”
He smiled back, a twinkle in his eye. “Sometimes, people just need a little push to see things clearly.”
And you know what? It worked. The next time Talia asked me to babysit, the apartment was almost sparkling. No piles of dirty dishes, no overflowing trash. She even had supper ready in advance.
Things have been better ever since. Talia’s learned to manage her time and is more respectful of mine. And Jett? He’s still the same sweet little boy, only now he gets a cleaner, happier place to play when I’m around.
In the end, Dad’s plan wasn’t just clever but perfect. Talia learned that family isn’t free labor, and sometimes, the best way to teach a lesson is to let someone deal with the results of their actions.
