Living with in-laws can be challenging, but I never imagined how far my father-in-law Richard would go to “make changes” in our home. Richard has lived with us for several years, and while he is family, he has a habit of interfering with household decisions. His most recent obsession? A swimming pool.
Richard insisted that because he was often home alone while my husband and I worked, he deserved some entertainment. He wanted to invite his friends over for barbecues and pool parties, and he thought it would be “fun for everyone.” I explained countless times that our backyard was far too small for a pool. More importantly, I had spent years nurturing my lawn, carefully planting flowers and creating a beautiful garden that became my escape after stressful days. That garden was my pride and joy.
But Richard didn’t listen. He would roll his eyes and complain that I was “too attached to some grass and flowers.” Then one weekend, while my husband and I were visiting my parents, Richard made his boldest move yet.
When we returned home, I froze in shock at what I saw. My once-green lawn and colorful flower beds were gone, replaced by a gigantic hole in the ground. Dirt was piled everywhere, and construction tools littered the yard. Standing proudly in the middle of the mess was Richard, grinning smugly.
“I’ve started the pool for you,” he announced. “No need to thank me.”
I felt rage rising inside me, but I bit my tongue to avoid sparking a family war. Richard looked so self-satisfied, as if he had done something noble. My husband was speechless. That night, I could hardly sleep, wondering how on earth we were going to fix the damage.
The next morning, the noise of diggers and workers continued outside. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, karma arrived in the form of our neighbor, Mrs. Jensen. She had never gotten along with Richard, and the two had exchanged countless arguments over the years about noise, parking, and even fence lines.
This time, however, Mrs. Jensen wore the sweetest smile as she walked straight toward Richard. “Good morning, Richard,” she said politely. “I see you’ve started quite the project here.”
Richard puffed up with pride, replying, “Yes, it’s going to be a pool. Finally, some fun around here.”
Her smile widened. “That’s very interesting. You do realize your digging went over the property line, don’t you?”
Richard’s grin faltered.
Mrs. Jensen pulled out a folder with official documents and photos. She had been waiting for this moment. “You’ve dug three feet into my yard. That means you’ve destroyed part of my property—and I’ll have to contact the city about this unauthorized construction.”
Within hours, city inspectors were on-site. They confirmed that Richard hadn’t applied for any permits. Not only had he ruined my garden, but he had also broken several building codes. The project was immediately shut down, and Richard was handed a hefty fine. To make matters worse, Mrs. Jensen demanded compensation for the damage to her property.
Richard’s smugness evaporated. Suddenly, the man who had laughed at my love for flowers was scrambling to explain himself to the authorities. The half-dug hole was left abandoned, and Richard was forced to pay thousands in fines and repairs.
In the end, the backyard was restored, though it took months and a lot of hard work to bring my garden back to life. Richard never dared to mention the word “pool” again. Instead, he quietly mowed the lawn every week, perhaps as his way of making amends.
As for me, I learned that sometimes patience pays off. I didn’t have to scream or argue—karma took care of everything.
✅ Disclaimer: This story is presented for entertainment purposes, and the accompanying image is AI-generated.