Rich Landlord Evicts Poor Old Lady from Rental Home, Goes to Family Dinner and Sees Her There — Story of the Day

A heartless landlord gives a woman who falls short on her rent notice. But when he goes to his sister’s house for a family dinner, he is shocked to find her there.

Life is hard, and it becomes even harder if the hearts that surround us are made of stone. Diane Salinger knew about life. At sixty-two, she’d seen a lot more dark days than sunny and cried a lot of tears.

But Diane wasn’t the kind of woman to give up. Every time life knocked her down, she bounced back up again, ready to fight again. She had lost her husband three years before, then a tornado razed her home. But she just picked up the stakes and started over again.

Even when Diane explained why she was short on the rent, Chris showed no sympathy. | Source: Shutterstock.com

Even when Diane explained why she was short on the rent, Chris showed no sympathy. | Source: Shutterstock.com

She took her savings and bought herself a small grocery store in a pretty mid-sized town in Michigan. It was perfect for her. A big enough town that would appreciate a few of the exotic items she intended to carry, small enough to be cozy and warm.

Cozy and warm might describe the community in general, but not Diane’s landlord, Chris Turkle. It was from Chris that Diane rented her small apartment within walking distance of the store.

When the going gets tough it’s important to be there for each other.

As far as it went, Diane was the perfect tenant. She was quiet, didn’t damage the property, and always paid her rent on time. And then one month, she was short.

Chris fanned out the money he’d taken from the envelope in front of Diane and waved it in her face. “$120 short, Mrs.Salinger.”

Diane's house was destroyed by a tornado. | Source: Unsplash

Diane’s house was destroyed by a tornado. | Source: Unsplash

Diane blushed. “As I was explaining, Mr. Turkle, since so many of the small businesses have been struggling during Covid… Well, I extended credit to some needy families…And this month, I’m a little short. But you know I’m good for it! I will pay you the $120 in two weeks…”

“If you’re willing to go under playing Mother Teresa, that’s YOUR problem,” Chris snapped. “I, Mrs.Salinger, am a businessman, not a charity! I want you out by the end of the week!”

“But Mr. Turkle…” Diane protested. “It’s only for a week, and it won’t happen again!”

Diane opened a lovely little grocery store. | Source: Unsplash

Diane opened a lovely little grocery store. | Source: Unsplash

“It happened once, and it’s enough for me, Mrs.Salinger. You’re OUT.” Chris said coldly, and he turned his back and walked out. He felt quite justified. He’d seen Diane’s grocery store, and it did brisk business.

There were always people trooping in and out with heavy shopping bags full of delicious-looking produce, and her deli section, he’d heard, was extremely popular. “Short on cash indeed!” he snorted to himself. “Taking advantage is what it is!”

Chris went home and got himself ready to go to dinner at his baby sister’s house. Vanessa was his favorite sister, and he often worried about her. She had married and divorced a man who seemed to be constantly unemployed, and Vanessa worked two jobs to make ends meet.

He’d offered to give her 16-year-old son a weekend job, but Vanessa always refused, blushing. “It’s okay, Chris,” she’d say. “I’ll make do!” But Chris had seen the dark shadows under her eyes and how thin her face was getting.

One month, Diane was short on her rent. | Source: Unsplash

One month, Diane was short on her rent. | Source: Unsplash

It was his nephew’s birthday, so Chris tucked a $20 note into an envelope and put it in his jacket pocket. Then he headed for the door and walked the three blocks to Vanessa’s house.

He knocked on the door, and Vanessa welcomed him with a happy smile. She looked more relaxed and a lot happier. Whatever she was cooking for dinner smelled delicious, and his mouth watered.

“Hey there!” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “Where’s the birthday boy?”

“Playing video games with Diane!” Vanessa smiled. “Come on in!” Vanessa walked to the stairs and shouted: “Joss, Diane, come on down! It’s dinner time!”

"I want you out by the end of the week!" | Source: Unsplash

“I want you out by the end of the week!” | Source: Unsplash

To Chris’ chagrin, in walked Mrs.Salinger, the tenant he’d just booted out of his property, and she seemed to be on great terms with his nephew and his sister! Diane was just as stunned to see Chris, but she was admirably cool.

“Hello,” she smiled. “Nice to see you. I didn’t know you were Vanessa’s brother…”

Chris blushed and cleared his throat. “Ehr…Yes, my younger sister…you know…”

“Come on, everyone,” cried Vanessa. “The roast will get cold!”

Chis was shocked to see Diana at his sister's house. | Source: Pexels

Chis was shocked to see Diana at his sister’s house. | Source: Pexels

“Roast!” cried Joss. “That’s my favorite…But mom, I know you only get paid next week! How can we afford this?”

Diane smiled at Joss and patted his hand. “Don’t you worry about that,” she said. “Your mom’s credit is good with me. That smells AMAZING, and I’m starving!”

In a low voice, Chris leaned in and asked, “Is Vanessa the person you’re helping?”

Diane smiled. “She’s one of them,” she replied. “Maybe she didn’t tell you, but one of her jobs fell through, so I’m just helping out until she’s back on her feet.”

Chris felt a wave of shame color his cheeks. “I’m so sorry about…you know… But why doesn’t Vanessa come to me?”

Dinner was a wonderful roast from Diane's store. | Source: Unsplash

Dinner was a wonderful roast from Diane’s store. | Source: Unsplash

Diane said gently, “You know, we all have our pride. Vanessa wants to stand on her own two feet and raise her boy. Help from a friend is one thing — being a poor relation asking for charity is another.”

Chris whispered, “I tell you what, from now on, you have the apartment at half-price — call it an investment in the town’s well-being and my sister’s!”

By the end of the evening, Chris had discovered that Diane was a very lovely and funny woman and that he enjoyed her company immensely. That night, his perception of his community shifted. He was going to follow Diane’s example. He was going to give a helping hand.

After that dinner, Chris started helping the community. | Source: Unsplash

After that dinner, Chris started helping the community. | Source: Unsplash

What can we learn from this story?

  • When the going gets tough, it’s important to be there for each other. Diane was quietly helping the poorer people in town by selling them food on credit she knew they could never repay.
  • Being able to admit you’re wrong and change your ways is an extraordinary thing. Chris not only realized he was wrong about Diane, but he also started to help those who were struggling.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a curvy girl who arrives at a dinner party to discover her fiancé there with a woman assuming her identity.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

I ruined my son’s wedding and don’t regret it! Am I wrong for doing it?

The transformation in my son’s behavior has been nothing short of startling. From a devoted husband and father, he morphed into someone unfaithful and neglectful.

This drastic change in demeanor coincided with the birth of my grandson, Tommy, who was born with Down syndrome.

To my surprise, my son, Mike, not only strained his relationship with Tommy’s mother, Jane, but he also chose to leave them altogether. Now, he’s preparing to tie the knot again.

As mothers, our responsibility is to motivate and support our children, a principle I stand by wholeheartedly. Thus, I believe my actions were justified, and I’ll provide you with the backstory to explain why.

Mike made the decision to marry at a young age when Jane, his then-girlfriend, revealed she was expecting a child. Jane, a captivating woman, won my heart with her girl-next-door charm, and I was pleased she became part of our family.

However, Tommy’s birth with Down syndrome posed challenges that strained Mike and Jane’s relationship. Mike’s infidelity led to their divorce, leaving Jane to care for Tommy alone.

Despite my willingness to support them, Mike showed no interest in his child or providing assistance. This lack of compassion shocked me, and my pleas for him to return or help Jane fell on deaf ears.

A surprising revelation came when my nephew Liam informed me that Mike was getting married again. I was taken aback, realizing I knew little about Mike’s current life.

It seemed he had convinced someone else to marry him, and I wasn’t even invited to the wedding. Concerned for Jane and Tommy, I requested the address from Liam and attended the ceremony.

As Mike spoke his vows, I walked in with Tommy on my hip, creating a memorable shock on Mike’s face. I took the opportunity to address him, introducing Tommy as his first “I did” and the family he abandoned.

I shared the painful details of Mike’s early marriage, Tommy’s birth, his infidelity, and his lack of financial support during the divorce. I wanted to caution his new fiancée about the situation she was entering.

Though disrupting the wedding may seem extreme, my intention was to impart a valuable lesson to Mike and prompt him to reconsider his actions. There is still hope for him to make things right for Tommy, either by rejoining our family or assuming financial responsibility.

Now, I seek your opinion: Was interfering with my son’s wedding a mistake, or was it a necessary step in guiding him towards a better path? I appreciate your understanding.

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