Cut Off the Leeches My Brother’s Fake Gifts Ruined Them All

My mother had a "bad memory"—every time she asked me to buy something, she conveniently forgot to pay me back.

I never minded. Not until the day before New Year, when I overheard her talking to my sister-in-law.

"Have Tania Fox pick up your family's New Year goods too. Oh, and that gaming console my precious grandson wants. She won't ask for the money anyway—might as well save your household a few dollars."

My blood ran cold.

So it wasn't that she forgot. She just saw me as her personal ATM.

All these years, every time she "forgot" to reimburse me, she'd finish with the same line: "Mom's getting old, sweetheart. My memory isn't what it used to be. Don't hold it against me."

And every time, I'd look at the gray streaking her temples and feel my heart soften.

That softening had cost me more than I could count.

Toilet paper, cooking oil, groceries—I covered it all. When my sister-in-law got married, I paid for her entire gold jewelry set. The five-piece one. That was supposed to be my brother's responsibility.

I wasn't unwilling to give. I just refused to be played for a fool.

So when Mom asked me to buy the New Year goods, I smiled and agreed.

Then promptly forgot all about it.

——

The day before New Year's Eve, I walked through the front door carrying exactly one thing: a carton of milk.

Mom stared at the box in my hands. "Tania. Where's everything I asked you to buy?"

I slapped my forehead. "Oh no—sorry, Mom. It completely slipped my mind."

She went still. For a long moment, she just stood there. Then her face contorted into something that was trying very hard to be a smile.

The room went silent.

I ignored the array of expressions aimed my way and shrugged. "Can't Stan and Isabella Fox just run out and grab everything? There's still time."

I stretched, not bothering to stifle my yawn. "I was up at five to catch my flight. I'm going to take a nap."

I'd barely turned toward my room when Mom grabbed my wrist.

"You promised." Her voice shook. "And now you show up with milk? We have a house full of guests! Are you trying to make us a laughingstock?"

Only then did I notice the relatives arranged across the living room sofas, watching with undisguised interest.

Ah. Right.

In previous years, I hadn't just bought our family's New Year goods—I'd supplied gifts for everyone. Mom cared about appearances, so I always picked the expensive stuff. The fancy imported chocolates. The high-end nuts in lacquered boxes. Everyone would ooh and aah and tell Mom how lucky she was to have such a successful daughter.

Now? One carton of milk. And the vultures were circling.

On cue, Aunt Maureen Fox's son burst into tears. "You said there'd be snacks! I waited ALL DAY! I want something yummy! I WANT IT NOW!"

Aunt Jill Fox pounced next. "Tania, we've been here since this morning. Your mother kept saying you were coming—we've been waiting and waiting!"

She leaned forward, eyes glittering. "We wanted to see what fancy things you'd bring back from the big city. Your mom's always bragging about how successful you are. We were dying to be impressed."

Her tone curdled. "And now you 'forgot'? Or maybe—now that you've made something of yourself—you don't want to acknowledge us poor relatives anymore?"

It wasn't just Mom. Everyone had gotten used to my generosity.

I arranged my face into something wide-eyed and harmless. "Oh, Aunt Jill, I'd never! I think I just inherited Mom's condition. You know—the forgetfulness."

I tilted my head, all innocence. "She's always been like this. Take Isabella's gold bracelet, for instance. Mom asked me to buy the wedding jewelry for Stan, and then just... never paid me back. Still hasn't remembered, actually."

I let that land before continuing. "Oh, and their apartment renovation? I covered that too. Mom forgot about that one as well."

The murmuring started immediately. Heads swiveled. Eyebrows climbed.

Uncle Walter Fox cleared his throat. "Now hold on. I have to say something here." He fixed Mom with a look. "That's not right. Why is Tania footing the bill for Stan's family expenses?"

Mom's face flushed crimson. She sputtered, mouth opening and closing, grasping for words that wouldn't come.

Finally, she managed: "What are you saying in front of everyone?! It's not like I was never going to pay you back!"