I’ll never forget the day my daughter, Abigail, called me. Her voice, usually full of cheer, was trembling with frustration and stress. “Mom, it’s a nightmare. All of this is just a nightmare!” she exclaimed, her distress palpable.

My heart sank. “What’s going on?” I asked, my maternal instincts kicking in full force. “Tell me everything, and speak slowly, honey.”

“My roommates!” she cried. “Their boyfriends are beyond ridiculous. Do you want to know what they did yesterday? Their boyfriends stopped my laundry load, took out all my clothes, dumped the wet mess on the floor, and began their own load of laundry!”

I was taken aback. “What?” I exclaimed, my anger rising. “That’s outrageous!”

“And there’s more,” she continued, her voice cracking with frustration. “They eat our food and leave dirty dishes everywhere. And you know how cold it’s been recently? Well, guess who’s been having cold showers? They always use up all the hot water. And to top it all off, they stopped contributing to the shared snack fund.”

My heart ached for Abigail. “Oh, darling,” I said, trying to soothe her. “I’m so sorry. We’ll figure this out.”

Abigail sighed deeply before mumbling her goodbyes. It was clear that this was more than just a minor inconvenience; it was a major issue affecting her daily life and well-being.

Determined to support her, I decided to take action. I found out that two of Abigail’s friends, Ella and Danielle, were also frustrated with the situation. They had been dealing with the same issues and were ready for a solution. “Please, Mrs. Landon,” Ella said when she called me. “Help us deal with this because we can’t live like this anymore.”

Knowing that three of the five roommates shared the same frustrations made the task easier. My focus now was on addressing the issues with Tess and Rachel, the two roommates who had introduced these problematic boyfriends into their shared space.

Confronting Tess and Rachel directly might lead to further drama and a toxic environment for Abigail and her friends. However, with the lease on their shared home nearing its end and Tess and Rachel planning a camping trip with their boyfriends from Friday to Sunday evening, the timing was perfect for intervention.

“This is it, Mom,” Abigail said with determination. “This is our chance to take control. They’re leaving on Friday and won’t be back until Sunday evening.”

I met with Abigail, Ella, and Danielle at a diner earlier in the week to strategize. “Right, girls,” I said, as we sipped on milkshakes. “We’re going to teach your roommates and their boyfriends a lesson. You cannot expect to live in such conditions, and I’m going to help put an end to it.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Landon,” Ella said, her gratitude evident. “When I spoke to my parents, they just told me to handle it as best I could. That didn’t help at all.”

“And my parents told me to say absolutely nothing!” Danielle chimed in. “They said it would get better in time.”

“No, I’m here now, and I’m listening to all three of you,” I reassured them. “We will make this right. I promise you.”

When Tess and Rachel were away, we took decisive action. We moved all of their belongings out—everything from living room furniture, dishes, silverware, cookware, plastic containers, and baking supplies. Abigail pointed out that the shower curtain and the newest broom and dustpan belonged to Tess, so those were taken as well.

“We’ll also need to take all the shared household supplies,” Abigail said. “Rachel and Tess haven’t contributed to any of these in months.”

Determined to ensure the girls got their rightful share, I brought over a lockable cupboard from my home. We packed up all the toilet paper, paper towels, dishwashing detergents, and laundry detergent, storing them securely in the cupboard.

“When you need these things,” I said as I packed away the cleaning supplies, “you can unlock the cupboard and use them.”

When Tess and Rachel returned, they were shocked to find their belongings gone. The added misfortune of food poisoning they suffered during their camping trip made their return even more miserable.

“You should have seen their faces,” Abigail said gleefully. “They were losing their minds. And to top it off, they were sick!”

Their scathing texts to Abigail were filled with anger and confusion. “How could you do this to us? We come back from a trip, sick and exhausted, only to find that everything is gone?” they wrote. “Where are our belongings? You put your stuff in the backyard?!”

Abigail, now calm and in control, replied with a hint of satisfaction. “You were camping. You probably just didn’t have the signal to receive our messages. Sorry, not sorry.”

In the days that followed, Tess and Rachel were forced to move out earlier than planned. They eventually ended up moving in with their boyfriends, who were evidently not ready for the demands of cohabitation.

“Mom, you wouldn’t believe it,” Abigail said to me over coffee. “The girls moved in with their boyfriends!”

“No way!” I exclaimed, curious about how they would handle their new situation.

“Yes! Dani saw them at the grocery store looking exhausted and irritated. They’re realizing the reality of their choices.”

“Serves them right,” I said, adding a spoonful of sugar to my coffee. “They needed to experience a bit of their own medicine. And now, Abigail and her friends can finally enjoy their home without the disruption.”

Abigail’s lease situation was resolved with two of her friends’ twin cousins moving into the remaining rooms. “We’re going to renew the lease,” Abigail said, smiling. “I’ve met them, and I know they’ll be a good fit!”

The plan worked perfectly, teaching Tess and Rachel a harsh lesson about respect and shared responsibilities. It was a satisfying moment of retribution and relief, allowing Abigail and her friends to reclaim their living space and enjoy their home in peace.