“What do you mean we can’t come in? We’re the ones who sold you the house. We have the right to stay for a week,” said the previous owners.

We moved from the countryside to the city back in 1975. Thats when we bought a house right on the outskirts, at the very edge of town. But, oh, we sure got a surprise! You know, the old village mentality meant everyone was incredibly helpful and generous, and my parents were no exception. So, when the former owners asked if they could stay on for a few weeks while they sorted out some paperwork, my parents kindly agreed.

These folks came with a massive, ill-tempered doghonestly, it was a brute. We didnt want to let it inside because it didnt trust us one bit. Even now, that dog is burned into my memory!

So the first week passes, then the second, and now were into the third week. Instead of making plans to go, the previous owners are sleeping in every day, hardly leaving the house, and acting like they still own the place. Particularly the mother, she was behaving as though nothing had changed.

My parents kept gently reminding them about the arrangement, but their departure kept getting pushed back.

Every day, theyd let their dog out into the garden. Not only did it leave a mess everywhere, but my siblings were terrified to go outside. That dog would barrel towards anyone in sight. Time and again, my parents asked them not to let it out, but as soon as Dad left for work in the morning, and my brother and sister headed to school, the dog was unleashed straight away.

In the end, it was actually the dog that helped Dad stand his ground with these cheeky people.

One day, my little sister got back early from school. She just forgot about the dog and went straight to open the gate. This enormous black beast bowled her right over! Thankfully, she was wearing one of those heavy old duffle coats, which took the worst of it. Aside from her coat being ruined, she made it out okay. They caught the dog and chained it up, but somehow it was my little sisters fault for coming home early!

Well, that evening kicked off quite the drama. Dad rushed home from work, didnt even take his coat off, and the first thing he did was march the previous owners mother straight out the front doorstill in her shoes, coat, and all. Then her daughter and son-in-law, seeing what was happening, bolted outside before Dad could even touch them. All their belongings went flying over the fence into the mud and puddlesno ceremony about it!

They even tried to set their dog on Dad, but the moment the dog saw what was going on, it just wagged its tail and curled up quietly in its kennel, wanting nothing to do with it all. Within an hour, every last thing they owned was outside, the gate was locked behind them, and the dog was sitting by the fence with his family and all their bags of treats.

And thats the story of how a grumpy old dog finally helped Dad get rid of the most stubborn house guests wed ever had.