When Jeremy and his wife, Nina, returned from a relaxing vacation, they were shocked to find their home turned upside down. The culprit? Jeremy’s older brother, Ted, notorious for being messy and irresponsible, had moved in without permission. The living room resembled a frat house after a wild party—beer cans, dirty laundry scattered everywhere, and an unbearable smell filled the air.
Jeremy’s anger was palpable, but Ted remained unfazed, casually lounging on the couch as if nothing was wrong. “Oh hey, Jeremy,” Ted greeted him with nonchalance. “Mom and Dad thought it would be easier for me to stay here while you were gone. You’ve got all this space, and it’s not like you’re using it.”
Jeremy struggled to grasp the audacity of Ted’s words. Without asking for permission, Ted had taken over their home, completely disregarding their privacy. Furious, Jeremy called his parents to confront them. Unfortunately, they sided with Ted, accusing Jeremy of being selfish for not helping his brother. His parents insisted that since he didn’t have children, there was no harm in letting Ted stay.
But Jeremy had had enough. Ted had freeloaded off their parents for years, and now he was expected to do the same. Jeremy resolved to take matters into his own hands, especially after Nina made it clear she wouldn’t stay in the house if Ted remained. She packed a suitcase, heading to her sister’s house, giving Jeremy an ultimatum: 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 fifth day, Ted had had enough. Frustrated and miserable, he stormed out, announcing that he was returning to their parents’ house. Jeremy, satisfied with the outcome, cleaned the house from top to bottom and prepared a special meal for Nina, calling her to let her know that Ted was gone for good.
Later that evening, Jeremy made one final phone call to his parents. “Ted’s out of my house,” he said firmly. “He won’t be coming back. He’s your responsibility now.”
Though his parents were upset, Jeremy felt at peace. Ted eventually moved back in with their parents, who forced him to convert the garage into his own living space and get a job. While they blamed Jeremy for Ted’s discomfort, he didn’t care. His home, and his marriage, were finally restored to tranquility.