When Jeremy and his wife, Nina, returned from a nice vacation, they were surprised to discover their home turned upside down. Who is the culprit? Ted, Jeremy’s elder brother, was infamous for being dirty and reckless, and had moved in without permission. The living area resembled a frat house after a big party, with beer cans and soiled linen strewn about and an awful odor permeating the air.
Jeremy’s rage was evident, but Ted remained unaffected, lazily sitting on the couch as if nothing had happened. “Oh, hey, Jeremy,” Ted said casually. “Mom and Dad believed it’d be better for me to stay here while you were away. You have all this room, yet you don’t seem to use it.”
Jeremy couldn’t believe Ted’s statements were so outrageous. Ted had taken over their home without their permission, disrespecting their privacy. Jeremy was furious and contacted his parents to confront them. Unfortunately, they agreed with Ted and accused Jeremy of being selfish for not assisting his brother. His parents felt that because he did not have children, there was no danger in allowing Ted to stay.
But Jeremy had had enough. Ted had been freeloading on their parents for years, and now he was supposed to do the same. Jeremy opted to take matters into his own hands, particularly after Nina stated that she would not stay in the home if Ted remained. She grabbed a suitcase and headed to her sister’s place, leaving Jeremy a choice: get rid of Ted or lose her.
Determined to regain control of his home, Jeremy launched a subtle but effective campaign to drive Ted out. First, he disconnected the Wi-Fi, leaving Ted without his beloved binge-watching sessions. Then, he turned off the hot water, forcing Ted to endure freezing showers every morning. The fridge was stocked with nothing but healthy food, the opposite of Ted’s greasy preferences. Finally, Jeremy began blasting loud music early in the mornings, disrupting Ted’s lazy lifestyle.
By the seventh day, Ted had had enough. He walked off, frustrated and dejected, stating his intention to return to their parents’ house. Jeremy was pleased with the outcome and cleaned the home from top to bottom, preparing a special lunch for Nina before contacting her to inform her that Ted had left for good.
Later that evening, Jeremy made one more call to his parents. “Ted’s out of my house,” he stated firmly. “He won’t be returning. He’s your responsibility now.”
Despite his parents’ displeasure, Jeremy felt at ease. Ted finally moved back in with their parents, who ordered him to turn the garage into his own living place and find work. They blamed Jeremy for Ted’s misery, but he didn’t care. His house and marriage were finally restored to harmony.
