You know how everyone has that one cousin who’s a little bit extra? Well, for me, that’s Ella. I’m Zoe, 25, recently out of grad school, and trying to figure out what comes next.

I work part-time at a local bookstore, just enough to keep the lights on while I look for something better. If I’m being honest, my life’s pretty quiet: books, coffee, the occasional hike. I’ve got a small circle of friends, and I’m good with that.

I come from a big family where everyone’s in everyone else’s business all the time. And Ella, my cousin who’s a few years older than me, is right at the center of it. She’s got this energy that’s almost exhausting to be around.

You’d think with her being married to Mike and having Tyler, their two-and-a-half-year-old son, she’d have mellowed out. But no, not Ella. They live in this tiny basement apartment under her parents’ house. It’s a tight fit, but hey, it’s home.

I’d only been there a few times for family get-togethers and always felt a little out of place. I guess I’d always been more of a watcher than a talker in the family, content to sit back and observe everyone else’s drama.

So, when Ella called me out of the blue one afternoon, sounding frantic, I wasn’t too surprised.

“Zoe, I need a huge favor. Can you come over and watch Tyler? Something came up, and I’ve got to go, like, now!” Her voice was higher-pitched than usual, and I could tell she was in a hurry.

I glanced at the clock. I didn’t have anything planned. “Yeah, sure, Ella. I’ll be there in ten.”

I mean, why not? Tyler’s adorable, and I figured it would be a nice break from my usual routine.

When I arrived, I barely had time to knock before the door swung open. Ella and Mike were practically tripping over each other to leave.

“Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Zoe!” Ella blurted out, already halfway out the door.

Mike gave a quick wave, “We owe you one!” and then they were gone, just like that.

Tyler, meanwhile, was all smiles, holding up his arms for a hug. “Hey, buddy!” I grinned, picking him up. I didn’t think much about Ella and Mike’s rushed departure.

I was too focused on Tyler, his little laugh, his big eyes looking up at me like I was his favorite person in the world.

But then he tugged on my sleeve and said, “Hungry, Zozo.”

“Okay, let’s see what we can find,” I said cheerfully, carrying him to the kitchen.

And that’s when I saw it: the mess. I mean, the place looked like a tornado had swept through it. Dirty dishes piled up, crusted old food, trash spilling out of the bin, and a smell that made me wince. My heart sank.

“What… happened here?” I mumbled, mostly to myself. Tyler just pointed to 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 making him anything with the kitchen looking like this. So, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.

I scrubbed pots, rinsed dishes, wiped counters, tossed out boxes, and cleaned until I could at least see the counter again.

“Wow, they weren’t kidding about needing help,” I muttered. Tyler giggled, thinking I was making a joke, 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 got there, it was like déjà vu. Same mess, maybe worse. Dishes everywhere, trash piling up, food crusted onto the stove.

I sighed and started cleaning, enough to make Tyler a decent meal, thinking, They must be having a tough time. It’ll get better soon. But it didn’t.

Week after week, Ella called, and each time, I arrived to find the same mess. Ella would rush out with a quick “Thank you!” and leave me to handle the chaos.

One Saturday, it was worse than ever; the sink was buried under dishes, and the fridge was practically glued shut with grime.

I spent nearly two hours just trying to make a clean spot to cook Tyler something simple. As I scrubbed, frustration bubbled up inside me. I wasn’t babysitting anymore. It dawned on me that I was being used as their personal maid.

That evening, when I got home, I was fuming. My dad noticed right away. “Rough day?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as I threw my bag down and flopped onto the couch.

I took a deep breath. “Dad, you wouldn’t believe it. Ella keeps asking me to watch Tyler, but every time, the place is a disaster. I end up spending more time cleaning than actually taking care of Tyler. It’s like she’s using me for free maid service!”

Dad listened, nodding slowly. “And you’ve been doing this… how long?”

“Months!” I threw my hands up. “I didn’t want to leave Tyler in the middle of that mess, but I’m so tired of it.”

“Why haven’t you told her to clean up before you get there?” he asked, his brow furrowing.

“I don’t know… I didn’t want to seem rude,” I mumbled. “Ella’s always saying how stressed she is, and I didn’t want to add to it.”

Dad leaned back, crossing his arms. “Zoe, you’re helping out with Tyler, not cleaning their house. You shouldn’t feel guilty for not wanting to deal with their mess.”

I nodded, realizing how silly I’d been for not seeing it sooner. Then I caught that familiar glint in Dad’s eyes: the one he gets when scheming something. I had no idea what he was planning, but I knew it would be interesting.

Dad leaned in close, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Here’s what we’re going to do,” he whispered like he was letting me in on a secret mission. “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 have to leave.”

I blinked, trying to follow his plan. “And… you want me to just walk out and leave her kitchen like that?”

He grinned wider. “Not quite. I’ll tell her mother-in-law to bring over a pot and some plates but won’t explain why. Let’s see how Ella handles it when she has to face that mess herself.”

I laughed, some of my frustration fading. “You’re sneaky, Dad. I like it. But will it actually work?”

Dad just shrugged. “We won’t know unless we try. Sometimes people need to see things from a different angle.”

So, the following Saturday, Ella called, just as frantic as before. “Zoe, can you watch Tyler again? I know it’s last minute, but—”

“Sure, no problem,” I cut in, trying to sound casual, even though my heart was racing with anticipation. I showed up at her place with a smile, played with Tyler, and kept glancing at the clock, waiting for Dad’s signal.

Around dinner time, I finally got the text from Dad, “Time to go.”

I took a deep breath and turned to Tyler. “Hey, buddy, I’ve got to run out for a bit, okay?”

He looked up at me with those big eyes. “You goin’ Zozo?”

“Just for a little while,” I reassured him, feeling a little pang of guilt. I texted Ella, saying I had an emergency and had to leave immediately. Then, grabbing my bag, I headed to the door. Just as I stepped outside, I saw Ella’s mother-in-law, Barbara, pulling up in her car.

Barbara stepped out, frowning, a big pot in one hand, plates in the other. “Zoe? What’s going on? Ella didn’t mention anything about needing a meal,” she said, looking genuinely confused.

I forced a polite smile, trying not to burst out laughing. “I’m so sorry, Barbara, but I have to go. Thanks for coming by!” And with that, I hurried away before she could ask any more questions.

I could just imagine Barbara walking in, finding the kitchen in its usual disaster state, and Ella having to explain why it looked like a tornado had hit. I practically skipped home, waiting for the fallout.

Not ten minutes after I got home, my phone buzzed. It was Ella, sending a barrage of frantic texts.

“What happened, Zoe? Why didn’t you clean up?” one read.

Then another. “Mom’s here, and she’s furious. What am I supposed to do?”

I decided to let her sweat for a bit. I put my phone down, turned to Dad, and gave him a thumbs up. “Mission accomplished.”

Dad chuckled. “I bet she’s panicking right about now.”

I didn’t reply to Ella’s messages right away. I wanted her to sit with the mess — literally and metaphorically — for a little while. Finally, my phone rang, and I picked up, trying to sound innocent. “Hey, Ella! Everything okay?”

Her voice was shaky, a mixture of panic and frustration. “Zoe, why did you leave like that? And why didn’t you clean up the kitchen?”

I took a deep breath, keeping my tone calm but firm. “Ella, I’m not your maid. I’ve been coming over 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 you dealt with it.”

She was silent for a moment, and then she sighed deeply. “I didn’t realize it was that bad… I just… I’ve been so overwhelmed, and I guess I took you for granted. I’m really sorry, Zoe.”

I softened a little, hearing the genuine regret in her voice. “I get it, Ella, I do. But you need to understand, this isn’t fair to me. I love Tyler, but I can’t keep cleaning up like that every time.”

Ella’s tone shifted, more earnest now. “I know. You’re right. I promise it won’t happen again. I’m so sorry.”

We talked a bit more, and she apologized again, sounding genuinely embarrassed. I told her I forgave her but also made it clear: “If you ever need help in the future, the place has to be clean before I come over. Otherwise, find someone else to watch Tyler.”

She agreed immediately, “Absolutely, Zoe. I swear, I’ll make sure everything is spotless.”

After we hung up, I turned to Dad, grinning. “Well, I think that did the trick.”

He smiled back, a twinkle in his eye. “Sometimes, people just need a little nudge to see things clearly.”

And you know what? It worked. The next time Ella asked me to babysit, the apartment was almost sparkling. No piles of dirty dishes, no overflowing trash. She even had dinner prepared in advance.

Things have been better ever since. Ella’s learned to manage her time and is more respectful of mine. And Tyler? He’s still the same sweet little boy, only now he gets a cleaner, happier place to play when I’m around.

In the end, Dad’s plan wasn’t just clever but perfect. Ella learned that family isn’t free labor, and sometimes, the best way to teach a lesson is to let someone deal with the consequences of their actions.

Loved this story? Here’s another one you’ll enjoy even more: Clara and her widowed Dad share a close bond, but his latest romantic move shakes things up. When he calls her the housekeeper to impress his new girlfriend, Clara feels both hurt and angry. Eventually, she decides to teach him a lesson…

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.