y Neighbor Refused to Carpool My Daughter Claiming She Had No Space in the Car — So I Taught Her a Harsh Lesson
Lena believes it will only be a one-time favor when she offers to assist her neighbor Karen by driving their girls to school. But Lena begins to become accustomed to Karen’s demands as they become a daily expectation. Lena chooses to discipline Karen when she flagrantly lies in order to avoid repaying the favor.
I used to believe that I was one of those individuals who could simply go with the flow. Remain calm and avoid creating any drama. However, everything began to alter the moment Karen came knocking on my door.
Hey, Lena! With an extremely charming smile, Karen added, “I’m so sorry to bother you this early.”
I was still in my jammies, attempting to use a cup of coffee to nudge my mind to wakefulness. My eight-year-old daughter, Sophie, was upstairs getting ready for school. The neighbor paid me a surprise visit, which was the last thing I anticipated.
I yawned and said, “No bother at all, Karen,” opening the door further. “What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you could take Emily to school with Sophie as I have an early meeting today. Only once, please? I’m in such a bind, I hate to ask.”
I wavered. It was not that I didn’t want to help; rather, it was that I wasn’t sure how I would manage two children in the early morning rush. I dismissed it, though, when I realized how much Sophie liked Emily and how kind she was all the time.
Yes, no issue at all. I can get rid of them both.”
Karen looked at me as though I had just given her the winning lottery ticket.
“Lena, you are a lifesaver. I have one to give you!”
I smiled and waved her away. “Really, don’t worry about it. Just a little favor, please.”
That’s how it all started. A “short favor” that developed into something far more intricate.
Karen was back at my door the following morning, looking as put together and energetic as ever. “Today, I have another early meeting. Would you please take Emily once more? It would be really beneficial, and she enjoys riding with Sophie.”
This continued for several weeks. Karen was always so kind and grateful in the mornings, asking me to take Emily. I didn’t mind at first. Emily behaved herself wonderfully, and Sophie enjoyed having her around.
However, it soon began to feel more like a duty than a favor. Karen had stopped asking and was now anticipating.
Sophie and I were running late one morning. The house was in a state of disarray due to me repeatedly hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock. The cat had overturned a vase, Sophie couldn’t locate her shoes, and I hadn’t even had time to brush my hair.
My phone buzzed as I hurried to get us out the door, and it was Karen texting me, asking if she could take Emily that day.
I gazed intently at the text. I felt like screaming at the prospect of taking on another child at a time when I was already stressed out. But then I got an idea—a desperate, basic concept.
As I actually am running late today, I texted Karen back. Would you please take Sophie?
I reasoned that it was just. I had been driving Emily to school for several weeks, after all. Karen could manage one morning, surely?
The response arrived almost instantly: I apologize, but the car is too full today.
I looked at the computer and blinked, shock washing over me. Overly full? Karen had a huge SUV! And Emily was the only person she ever moved inside!
My brain raced, searching for any plausible excuse for such blatant deception, but I couldn’t think of any. Karen had just shown her actual nature, and it wasn’t a good picture.
I recognized then that I had been duped. Simply put, Karen had been taking advantage of me, mistaking my kindness for weakness.
I wanted to storm over to her house and tell her just what I thought of her ridiculous justification. Instead, I forced myself to remain composed by clenching my teeth. This was no occasion for conflict. Not quite yet.
Rather, I prepared Sophie, took her to school, and then let my rage fester for the remainder of the day. Whenever I remembered Karen’s text, I felt a new wave of irritation.
Karen was not going to get away with this from me. Not any longer. I wasn’t as soft as she imagined, and she was about to find out that she’d poked the bear too many times.
As expected, I received a text the following morning asking if I could take Emily again.
Reading those sentences made me virtually picture Karen’s arrogant smile. Like every other time, she was positive that I would say yes. Yes, I did reply, but this time I had a strategy.
“Hey, Sophie, how about we stop at Rosie’s Donuts on the way to school today?” When I had done preparing her lunch, I yelled up the stairs. It was only a few minutes away from Sophie’s favorite doughnut shop, but I knew that would add enough time to our trip for Karen to notice.
“Are you serious? during the school day?” With her rucksack draped over one shoulder, Sophie came running down the stairs, her voice brimming with pleasure.
Yes. It’s a unique Friday delight. How would you respond?”
“Yay!” With her ponytail swinging behind her, Sophie virtually danced her way to the vehicle.
I grinned to myself, seeing Sophie happy and slightly relieving the sting of Karen’s betrayal.
Karen and Emily were waiting outside, as one might anticipate.
“Good morning, Lena!” With a bright smile and piercing eyes, Karen chirped, appraising. “Again, I appreciate you doing this. You truly are a blessing.”
“Oh, no problem at all,” I answered, adding a little of my own phony cheer to hers. “It’s always a pleasure.”
After Emily and Sophie got into the backseat and started talking about their favorite YouTube videos, I pulled out of the driveway and gave Karen a wave before we left.
I could feel her eyes on us, and I’m sure she was mentally crossing off another worry-free childcare morning.
However, things weren’t the same today.
I turned left at the next crossing, headed directly for Rosie’s, rather than taking the regular route to school. Emily saw right away.
“Miss Richards? “Isn’t that the route we should take?” she inquired.
I winked and said, “This morning, Emily, we’re stopping for donuts.”
Emily had a perplexed expression. “Won’t we be late?”
I gave her a comforting grin as I peered at her through the rearview mirror. “My dear, don’t worry. We’ll arrive on schedule.
That wasn’t quite accurate, though. We were getting close by the time we arrived to the doughnut shop. However, I wasn’t in a rush. After we strolled inside, I let the girls choose the sweets they preferred.
“Mom, this is the best day ever!” With a donut in her mouth, Sophie yelled.
I grinned, relishing the occasion. “Glad you think so, sweetie.”
We ate slowly and talked about nothing in particular as the time passed. Normally, I wouldn’t force my child to arrive late for school, but this wasn’t about Sophie or Emily. This was a point-making exercise.
When we eventually left Rosie’s, the morning traffic had subsided and the streets were wonderfully deserted.
Upon arriving at the school, we noticed that the parking lot was almost vacant. I felt a tinge of remorse as I saw the school employees begin to pack things after the morning drop-off. But the joy of knowing that Karen was probably already furious overshadowed it in no time.
I said, “Alright, girls, here we are,” as I pulled into the parking lot. “Have a great day, and don’t forget to tell your teachers we had a special morning!”
Sophie smiled and threw a short hug at me before she and Emily ran inside. Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself for the fallout as I watched them go.
As expected, Karen was waiting for me on her doorstep with her arms crossed when I returned home. Her eyes were nearly glowing with wrath, even though it seemed like she was attempting to keep it together.
“Lena, what took place? Emily arrived at school late! I assumed you would deliver them on schedule.” The instant I got out of the car, she took a picture.
I approached her, trying to look as innocent as possible. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Karen! However, you are aware of how things are.”
I could see the wheels churning in her thoughts as her jaw tensed. “I see,” she uttered with clenched teeth. “Well, try not to let it happen again.”
Or perhaps you could pick Emily up on your own? Just a notion.”
Karen did not respond. She simply pivoted and strode back inside, forcefully shutting the door in her wake. I felt a surge of victory pass over me as I watched her leave. I didn’t stand up for myself very often, but this time it felt amazing. Excellent.
Karen never again asked me to drop Emily off at school after that. She never again failed to prepare her daughter so that she could make the drive herself.
I didn’t mind that she avoided me whenever she could, obviously embarrassed and resentful. At last, she had realized her mistake.
And I had at last discovered mine. Being a doormat does not equate to being a good neighbor. It’s necessary to defend yourself sometimes, even if it means going the scenic road.
