My in-laws ditched my mom at a restaurant to dodge the check, but she already had a backup plan ready.
For years, my wealthy in-laws had a nasty habit of “forgetting” their wallets at dinner, leaving others to cover the bill. They thought they could pull the same trick on my mom—but she had a surprise waiting for them.
Dan’s parents were rich but stingy, always ordering lavishly and vanishing when the check arrived. When they invited my mom to a fancy 60th birthday dinner, I warned her about their dine-and-dash routine. She just laughed and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”
Sure enough, my in-laws ordered the most expensive food and wine, then conveniently “forgot” their wallets. But my mom’s old friend Robbie was the restaurant manager—and together, they made a plan. Robbie called my in-laws, warning that if they didn’t come back to pay, he’d report it as theft. They rushed back, humiliated, only to find an added 25% “inconvenience fee” waiting for them.
The next day, my mother-in-law pretended nothing had happened, claiming, “We always pay our own way.” From then on, every dinner began with her announcing, “We’re paying separately tonight,” while Dan and I tried not to laugh. My mom had turned their favorite scam into an unforgettable lesson in humility.
