That’s when Richard chuckled and patted Mike on the back.
“You picked a good one, son,” he said as he looked around the house. “Alyssa’s a keeper.”
Can’t wait for you to taste it.”
Tight budget? I thought. Is that what you call a budget? Twenty dollars?
I wanted to confront him there and then, but I stayed quiet and waited for the right moment.
Finally, dinner was served.
As they loaded their plates, the compliments started pouring in.
“This turkey is so moist,” one of his brothers said.
“The cranberry sauce tastes like it’s homemade,” Maureen added, her usual condescension replaced by genuine admiration.
Then, Mike raised his glass.
I took a deep breath and stood, holding my own glass. “Thank you, Mike. That means a lot.
But I’d like to say a few words before we dig in.”
That’s when all eyes turned to me. The room fell silent as my gaze shifted from Maureen to Richard, and then to my dearest husband.
“This year, I wanted to make Thanksgiving truly special,” I began. “You see, Mike gave me a generous $20 budget to work with, so I had to get a little creative.”
Maureen’s fork froze mid-air, and Richard glanced at Mike, who shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
Meanwhile, his brothers exchanged awkward looks. They couldn’t believe Mike expected me to prepare a lavish dinner with just twenty bucks.
“But you know,” I continued, “while I was planning this dinner, I realized something important. It’s not just about the food or the decorations.
Mike cleared his throat. “Honey, maybe now’s not the time—”
“Oh, I think it’s the perfect time,” I said, cutting him off.
“Because while I was cooking, cleaning, and making this house look perfect for you and your family, I also realized I deserve better. I deserve more than being treated like a maid or a personal chef.”
Maureen’s face turned red. “Alyssa, we’ve always appreciated you—”
“Have you?” I asked, my voice calm but firm.
“Because it doesn’t feel like it when you criticize everything I do or expect me to cater to you like it’s my job.”
Suddenly, Mike stood up.
“Alyssa, you’re blowing this out of proportion,” he said. “Everyone’s enjoying the meal.
Let’s not ruin the holiday, please.”
I smiled sweetly. “Oh, don’t worry, Mike. The meal won’t be ruined.
But before we continue, I should mention one more thing. This dinner? It’s takeout from the fancy catering place you said we couldn’t afford.”
I almost wanted to laugh after seeing Maureen and Richard’s faces.
They looked at their plates like they were betrayed.
“You used catering?” Maureen finally sputtered.
“Yes,” I said. “Because after everything I’ve done for this family, I figured I’d give myself a break. And you know what?
It was worth every penny.”
I set my glass down and turned to Mike.
“Oh, and one more thing,” I said. “This is the last Thanksgiving dinner I’ll ever make for your family. You can figure out next year’s meal on your own.
Maybe Maureen can teach you her magic. She can tell you how she manages to cook meals with no money!”
With that, I grabbed my purse and walked to the door, leaving behind a table full of stunned faces.
The cool November air hit my face as I slammed the door shut behind me. And honestly, it didn’t feel bad.
I felt so refreshed and that was all because I stood up for myself.Continue reading…
