You’d think that family would never take advantage of us, right? That’s what I thought until my cousin Ella started treating me like her maid. It wasn’t until my father came up with a brilliant plan that things took a different turn.
You know how everyone has that one cousin who’s a little special? For me, it’s Ella. I’m Zoe, 25, recently graduated college, and trying to figure out what’s next for me.
A pensive woman looking out the window | Source: Midjourney
I work part-time at a local bookstore, just enough to keep the lights on while I look for something better. To be honest, my life is pretty quiet: books, coffee, the occasional hike. I have a small circle of friends, and I’m fine with that.
I come from a big family where everyone is always meddling in each other’s business. And Ella, my cousin who is a few years older than me, is at the center of it all. She has this energy that is almost exhausting to be around.
A woman laughing | Source: Midjourney
You’d think that with her marriage to Mike and the birth of their two-and-a-half-year-old son, Tyler, she’d have settled down. But no, not Ella. They live in a tiny basement apartment in her parents’ house. It’s a little cramped, but it’s home.
I’ve only been there a few times for family reunions and I’ve always felt a little out of place. I think I’ve always been more of an observer than a talker in the family, content to sit back and observe the dramas of others.
A quiet woman sitting on a couch at a small family gathering | Source: Midjourney
So when Ella called me out of the blue one afternoon, looking frantic, I wasn’t too surprised.
“Zoe, I need a huge favor. Can you come check on Tyler? Something happened and I need to go right away!” Her voice was higher than usual, and I could tell she was in a hurry.
I glance at the clock. I had nothing planned. “Yeah, sure, Ella. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
I mean, why not? Tyler is adorable, and I figured it would be a nice break from my usual routine.
A little boy playing with his toys | Source: Midjourney
When I arrived, I barely had time to knock before the door opened. Ella and Mike were practically tripping over each other as they tried to leave.
“Oh my God, thank you so much, Zoe!” Ella said, already halfway out the door.
Mike gave a little wave, “We owe you one!” and they were off, just like that.
Tyler, meanwhile, was all smiles and held out his arms for a hug. “Hey, buddy!” I smiled as I pulled him into my arms. I didn’t think much about Ella and Mike’s hasty departure.
A woman holding a baby boy | Source: Midjourney
I was too focused on Tyler, his little laugh, his big eyes looking at me like I was his favorite person in the world.
But he pulled on my sleeve and said: “You’re hungry, Zozo”
“Okay, let’s see what we can find,” I said happily as I carried him to the kitchen.
And that’s when I saw it: the mess. It looked like a tornado had swept through the place. Dirty dishes piled high, old food caked on, trash spilling out of the trash can, and a smell that made me wince. My heart sank.
A messy and dirty kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“What… happened here?” I wondered. Tyler just pointed at the fridge, oblivious.
“Okay, Ty, let’s, uh, find something to eat,” I said, trying to sound cheerful. But I knew there was no way I was going to make him anything with a kitchen in this state. So I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
I scrubbed pots, rinsed dishes, wiped down counters, threw out boxes, and cleaned until I could at least see the counter again.
Woman looks exhausted after cleaning kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“Wow, they weren’t kidding about needing help,” I mumbled. Tyler laughed, thinking I was joking, but I was starting to wonder what I’d signed up for.
The next weekend, Ella called again. “Zoe, can you come over? Just for a few hours?”
I hesitated but said, “Sure, I’ll be there.”
But when I arrived, I had a feeling of déjà vu. Same mess, maybe worse. Dishes everywhere, trash piling up, food sticking to the stove.
A woman standing in a messy kitchen with dirty dishes stacked on the counter | Source: Midjourney
I sighed and started cleaning up, enough to make a decent meal for Tyler, figuring they must be going through a rough time. It’ll get better soon. But it doesn’t.
Week after week, Ella would call, and each time, I would arrive to find the same mess. Ella would quickly leave with a quick, “Thanks!” and leave me to deal with the chaos.
One Saturday it was worse than ever; the sink was buried under dishes and the refrigerator was practically stuck together with grime.
A fridge in a messy kitchen looks dirty and covered in grime | Source: Midjourney
I spent almost two hours trying to make a clean corner so I could cook Tyler something simple. As I scrubbed, frustration built inside me. I wasn’t babysitting anymore. I realized I was being used as their personal maid.
That night when I got home, I was furious. My dad noticed right away. “Rough day?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as I threw my bag down and collapsed on the couch.
Exhausted and upset woman sitting at home | Source: Midjourney
I took a deep breath. “Dad, you’re not going to believe this. Ella keeps asking me to babysit Tyler, but every time it’s a disaster. I spend more time cleaning than I do taking care of Tyler. It’s like she’s using me as a free maid!”
Dad listened, nodding slowly. “And you’ve been doing this… for how long?”
“Months!” I threw my arms up in the air. “I didn’t want to leave Tyler in the middle of this mess, but I’m so sick of it.”
“Why didn’t you tell him to clean up before you got here?” he asked, frowning.
A middle-aged man looks concerned as he talks to someone at home | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t know… I didn’t mean to sound rude,” I mumbled. “Ella’s always talking about how stressed she is, and I didn’t want to add to it.”
Dad leaned back, crossing his arms. “Zoe, you’re helping Tyler out, not cleaning their place. You shouldn’t feel guilty about not wanting to take care of their mess.”
I nodded, realizing how stupid I had been for not seeing it sooner. Then I saw that familiar glint in Dad’s eyes: the one he gets when he’s up to something. I had no idea what he was up to, but I knew it would be interesting.
A middle-aged man smiles while talking to someone | Source: Midjourney
Dad leaned in close to me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Here’s what we’re going to do,” he whispered, as if he were sharing a secret mission with me. “Next time Ella asks you to babysit, say yes. But when it’s time to make dinner, I’ll call her mother-in-law and tell her there’s an emergency and you need to go.”
I blinked, trying to follow his plan. “And… you want me to leave and leave his kitchen like this?”
A woman looks puzzled while looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
He smiled wider. “Not quite. I’ll tell her mother-in-law to bring a pot and plates, but I won’t explain why. Let’s see how Ella does when she has to deal with this mess herself.”
I laughed, some of my frustration fading away. “You’re sneaky, Dad. I like it. But is it really going to work?”
Dad just shrugged. “We won’t know until we try. Sometimes people need to see things from a different perspective.”
So the following Saturday, Ella called, just as frantic as before. “Zoe, can you watch Tyler again? I know it’s last minute, but…”
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“Sure, no problem,” I said, trying to sound casual, even though my heart was pounding with anticipation. I showed up at her house with a smile, played with Tyler, and glanced at the clock, waiting for Dad’s signal.
At dinner time, I finally got the message from Dad: “It’s time to go.”
I took a deep breath and turned to Tyler. “Hey, buddy, I gotta go out for a bit, okay?”
He looked at me with his big eyes. “Are you going to Zozo’s?”
A little boy looks up while playing with his toys | Source: Midjourney
“Just for a little while,” I reassured her, feeling a twinge of guilt. I texted Ella, telling her I had an emergency and needed to leave immediately. Then, grabbing my bag, I headed out the door. As I was walking out the door, I saw Barbara, Ella’s mother-in-law, drive up.
Barbara came out with a frown, a large saucepan in one hand, plates in the other. “Zoe? What’s going on? Ella didn’t tell me she needed a meal,” she said, looking genuinely confused.
A middle-aged woman frowns while holding a pot in one hand and plates in the other | Source: Midjourney
I forced a polite smile, trying not to burst out laughing. “I’m really sorry, Barbara, but I have to go. Thanks for stopping by!” And with that, I hurried away before she could ask any more questions.
I imagined Barbara coming in, finding the kitchen in its usual state of disarray, and Ella having to explain why it looked like a tornado had hit the house. I practically skipped out of my house, waiting for the fallout.
Ten minutes after I arrived, my phone rang. It was Ella, sending a stream of frantic messages.
A woman smiles while looking at her phone | Source: Midjourney
“What happened, Zoe? Why didn’t you clean it up?” it read.
Then another one. “Mom’s here and she’s furious. What am I supposed to do?”
I decided to let her sweat a little. 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 now.”
I didn’t respond to Ella’s messages right away. I wanted her to sit with the mess—literally and metaphorically—for a little while. Eventually, my phone rang, and I answered it, trying to sound innocent. “Hey, Ella! Everything okay?”
Woman feigns innocence while talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
Her voice was shaky, a mix of panic and frustration. “Zoe, why did you leave like that? And why didn’t you clean the kitchen?”
I took a deep breath, keeping my tone calm but firm. “Ella, I’m not your maid. I’ve been coming to your house for weeks, and every time, it’s the same disaster. I agreed to babysit, not clean your entire house. I had to leave, and I thought it was time for you to take care of it.”
A woman looks a little angry while talking to someone on the phone | Source: Midjourney
She was silent for a moment, then she let out a deep sigh. “I didn’t realize it was so bad… It’s just… I’ve been so overwhelmed, and I think I’ve taken you for granted. I’m so sorry, Zoe.”
I softened a little at the genuine regret in her voice. “I understand, Ella, I really do. But you have to understand that this isn’t fair to me. I love Tyler, but I can’t keep cleaning like this every time.”
Ella’s tone changed, more serious now. “I know. You’re right. I promise it won’t happen again. I’m so sorry.”
A woman looks a little ashamed while talking to someone on the phone | Source: Midjourney
We talked some more, and she apologized again, sounding genuinely embarrassed. I told her I forgave her, but I also made it very clear: “If you need help in the future, the place has to be clean before I come. If not, find someone else to watch Tyler.”
She immediately agreed: “Absolutely, Zoe. I swear I’ll make sure everything is spotless.”
After hanging up, I turned to Dad and smiled. “Well, I guess that did the trick.”
He smiled back, a glint in his eye. “Sometimes people just need a little push to see things clearly.”
A middle-aged man smiles while looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
It worked. The next time Ella asked me to babysit, the apartment was practically sparkling. No piles of dirty dishes, no overflowing trash can. She had even made dinner ahead of time.
Things have gotten better since then. Ella has learned to manage her time and is more respectful of mine. And Tyler? He’s still the same sweet little boy, but now he has a cleaner, happier place to play when I’m around.
A woman and a little boy having fun together | Source: Midjourney
In the end, Dad’s plan wasn’t just smart, it was perfect. Ella learned that family isn’t free labor, and sometimes the best way to teach a lesson is to let someone face the consequences of their actions.
Read also: My sister-in-law demanded that I babysit her kids for free because I work as a nanny – I made her see the reality
This work is inspired by real events and persons, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and is not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims as to the accuracy of events or portrayal of characters and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and all opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the opinions of the author or publisher.
