A friend invited guests to our cottage for her birthday without asking permission
Six years ago, my husband and I bought a cosy summer cottage. We took great pride in doing all the renovations ourselves, landscaped the garden, and tried to spend every weekendor at least every other weekendthere.
Rather than planting a full vegetable patch, we settled on just one bed with cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, onions, courgettes, and peppers. Just the basics, really, and in small amounts.
We bought the cottage complete with established raspberry bushes, several currant and gooseberry bushes, and plenty of strawberry plants. I often brought fruit in for my colleagues at work, and, unsurprisingly, everyone was thrilled.
This year, a woman named Charlotte joined our team from another department. She seemed rather pleasant and well-mannered. The very day she arrived, I had brought in some strawberries, so naturally, I offered her a few.
After tasting them, she raved about how delicious they were, then started asking me all sorts of questions about where they came from and what the cottage was like. I was happy to tell her everything.
A few days later, Charlotte popped by my desk and asked if she could have the keys to our cottage. Apparently, her daughter wanted to go there with her own children for a few weeks, so the kids could get some fresh air. She reasoned that since we wouldnt be there that week, and her daughter was on maternity leave, it would be the perfect escape from the city for them.
I politely refused, of course. She looked quite put out, but let it drop.
Two weeks later, another woman from Charlottes department approached me, asking how to get to our cottage. Confused, I asked her why she wanted to know.
She explained that Charlotte had invited her, along with a handful of other colleagues, to a birthday party at our cottagebut everyone had to make their own way there.
I was gobsmacked.
I went straight to Charlotte and demanded to know what she was playing at.
Whats the problem? she asked, all innocence. Surely its no trouble if we celebrate my birthday at your cottage for just one day. Were not even staying over. You dont mind, do you?
Actually, I did mind. I minded the work wed put into the place, and I minded the thought of other people trampling the grass, ruining my flowerbeds, making a mess of the bushes and the house itself.
What made it worse was she hadnt invited me, nor even bothered to ask permission.
I refused again, and though she took offence, I stood firm. I dont care. Ive been generous enough to bring fruit in for my colleagues for years, but none of them has ever been boldor rudeenough to pull a stunt like Charlotte did.
