The Friends of the Friends of the Friends of the Friends of the Friends Came to Visit Us on Holiday: I Wish I Hadn’t Said No

Last year, a dear old friend phoned me and implored me to host her closest friends at my home for a week. They had decided to unwind by the seaside in our little village. It felt odd to refuse, so I agreed. Still, I warned her beforehand:

“The season is in full swing, so I can’t offer them a room for free. On the other hand, I don’t feel comfortable charging your friends either.”

At this, my friend reassured me, “Darling, they’ll pay. Money isn’t an issue; they’re only worried about being cheatedthose folks who take payment up front and then refuse to let guests in or throw them out mid-holiday.”

Ah, I walked straight into that trap. Had I known what the week would cost me, I’d never have said yes.

Feeling uneasy, I gave them a generous discount. They got a room at half price.

The day arrived! Instead of the promised family, a teenage girl showed up with them, alongside a 10-year-old boy. It was a bit awkwardfriends, yes, but three in a room rarely works well!

The meeting was pleasant enough. I tried to cook a proper meal, and after supper, showed them our town’s highlights. Wishing them well, I left for my lessons.

On the second day, the guests’ son fired a water pistol at the TV while it was on. Both parents were in the room, but that didn’t deter the mischief. The couple apologised and promised to pay for repairs, but the TV was ruined (still awaiting proper mending). I gave them another TV from the next room. “What else could they do in the evening?”

Then, the friendly family burnt my kettle. Sorryto be precise, the teenage girl forgot to add water.

Afterwards, they began “decorating” their room (claiming it was too snug), breaking two legsone from the nightstand and another from the table. For them, it was all a laugh: “Oh, you have loads of this furniture! We’ll tape the table leg and all’s well. And we’ll wedge something under the nightstandno bother.”

The peak came with a wild party that went on until two in the morning, full of shouting and drunken singing. When I asked for the music to be turned down at eleven, they replied, “Relax, for your money.” True, they did lower the volume after a second request.

There was no sense in arguing with drunken guests, so I waited for morning. Next day, I spoke frankly to the couple, telling them their behaviour was unacceptable. They weren’t the only ones here holidaying. I also asked them to take care with the appliances.

My friends shrugged, dissatisfied: “We’ve paid, haven’t we?” I was annoyed: “Thank you for coming here as friends of a friendotherwise, you wouldn’t be here!”

After that, they behaved more modestly, and nothing else broke. Yet, our friendship ended there.

In the end, we stopped speaking to each other. Of course, that didn’t prevent them from taking the gifts and souvenirs I’d prepared for them and our mutual friend. To boot, two large bath towels and a terracotta sheet vanished from the room.

I should mention, these were the best friends of my friend. She and I had been close all through school, until she married and moved away. She used to describe her friends as charming and well-mannered. Had they truly been so, they could have spent every summer holiday here.

That was how things turned out. My friend said nothing for a long while, but eventually, in conversation, admitted they disliked their holiday: “They said you were always after them and spoiling their fun. Even though they paid loads!”

Regrettably, the sum paid couldn’t buy a TV, kettle, table, nightstand, bed linen, or towels. Plus, it cost me countless nerves and annoyed the other guests. That affects the reputation of our placeand next year, tourists might choose somewhere else.

Still, I gained a wealth of experience, and now I know: sometimes, it’s best to simply say no.