You can change in the bathroom there.”
His face lit up. “See? I knew you’d understand.
Thanks, babe. You’re the best!” He handed me the shirt and walked out, completely missing the sarcasm laced through my words.
I stood there for a moment, staring at the stained shirt in my hands. My manager, Cheryl, walked over, shaking her head with a knowing smile.
Cheryl laughed, loud and unrestrained.
“Oh, honey, you’ve got a mama’s boy on your hands. You gonna let him get away with that?”
“No way,” I said, a small smile creeping onto my face. “I have an idea, though.”
Cheryl chuckled.
“Take the rest of the day off. You’ve earned it. But only if you’re going to teach this boy a lesson.”
“Thanks,” I said, grabbing my bag.
As I left, I felt a rush of determination. Liam had no idea what was coming, and I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face.
As I drove home from the hospital, I was already dialing Liam’s mom. The phone rang twice before her cheerful voice answered.
“Katie!
How’s my favorite nurse?” she said brightly.
“Hi, Mrs. Harper. I’m… good, but I need to talk to you about Liam.”
Her tone shifted immediately.
“Oh no, what’s he done?”
I took a deep breath. “He showed up at my workplace today with a ketchup-stained shirt and demanded that I wash it. At the hospital.
During my shift.”
There was a pause, then a gasp. “He did WHAT? That boy is too old to be acting like that.
I’m so sorry, Katie. I’ll take care of this. What can I do to help?”
I grinned, relieved she was on board.
“Actually, I have an idea. He’s expecting me to deliver the cleaned shirt to the restaurant tonight. How would you feel about showing up instead?
Maybe make it a little… memorable for him?”
That evening, I arrived at the restaurant a good 20 minutes after Liam and his friends were set to arrive. Laughter and conversation filled the air, mixing with the clinking of glasses and silverware.
I found a table tucked into a corner where I could watch without being noticed. Perfect.
A few minutes later, Mrs.
Harper walked in, holding the freshly washed and ironed shirt in a garment bag. She looked confident and composed, but with a glint in her eye that told me she was ready to put on a show.
She spotted me immediately and gave a small wave. I gestured toward Liam’s table, where he had just sat down with his friends.
Mrs.
Harper marched right up to the table, her heels clicking against the floor. She was loud enough to draw attention from nearby diners.
“Liam! Sweetheart!” she called out, holding the garment bag high like a prized possession.
Liam’s head snapped up, his smile vanishing as soon as he saw her.
His friends froze, glancing between him and Mrs. Harper with wide eyes.
“Mom?” Liam croaked, his face already turning red.
“I washed your shirt for you!” she said brightly, pulling the garment bag off with a dramatic flourish. She held up the pristine white shirt for everyone to see.
“I couldn’t let you go around looking like a mess. And don’t worry, I packed some stain remover wipes for you, just in case.”
His friends started laughing—quiet snickers at first, but within seconds, one of them clapped loudly. “Aw, look at Mommy taking care of her little boy!”
“Yeah, Liam,” another chimed in.
“Next time, just have her pack your lunch too!”
Liam’s ears burned red as he stood up, practically snatching the shirt from his mom’s hands. “Thanks, Mom,” he muttered through gritted teeth.
But Mrs. Harper wasn’t done.
She reached up and straightened his collar, patting his cheek for good measure. “You’re welcome, honey. Now, remember what I always say: napkins in your lap and be careful with sauces.”
The table erupted in laughter.
Liam tried to laugh along, but it came out weak and forced. His friends were practically in tears, and even a server passing by smiled.
From my spot in the corner, I could barely contain my laughter. Watching Liam squirm under his mom’s fussing was everything I’d hoped for and more.
Then, he spotted me.
Our eyes met across the room, and his jaw dropped.
His mortification turned to realization in a split second. He shook his head slightly, as if to say, You didn’t.
I just raised my glass, smiling sweetly.
Liam stormed over to my table, clutching the shirt like it was a lifeline. His face was a mix of frustration and embarrassment, and he leaned in close, whisper-yelling, “What the hell, Katie?
You got my mom involved?”
I tilted my head, barely hiding my smirk. “You said your mom always did this kind of thing for you. I thought you’d appreciate the nostalgia.”
He groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
“Okay, I get it. I was being a jerk. I shouldn’t have dumped my mess on you like that, especially while you were at work.
I’m sorry.”
“Good start,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
He sighed. “And I promise I’ll stop relying on you or my mom for stuff I should handle myself.”
I smiled, leaning forward slightly. “That’s all I wanted to hear.
Just don’t ever pull something like this again.”
“Deal,” he muttered, glancing back at his table. His friends were still laughing, one of them miming a kiss on the cheek. Liam groaned again.
“I’m never going to live this down.”
As Liam shuffled back to his seat, I watched, feeling a wave of satisfaction. It wasn’t just about the embarrassment; it was about setting boundaries and teaching him to take responsibility.
Later that week, Liam tried to do laundry on his own for the first time. He called me three times from the laundry room.
By the end of it, he had accidentally shrunk one of his favorite sweaters.
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” I teased as he held up the toddler-sized sweater.
Liam grinned sheepishly. “I’m trying.”
I laughed, shaking my head. He had a long way to go, but at least he was learning.
Source: amomama
