A recent university graduate who secured himself a job claims his family on his mother's side invited him out for a double celebration - only to ambush him with the bill after when they were finished eaten.
The restaurant they'd chosen was "pretty expensive", but the young man had agreed to go regardless, oblivious of their intentions, and ended up "having a pretty good time." But the fun stopped once the bill arrived.
He said he was fully prepared to pay for himself and his elderly grandfather, but hadn't realised his relatives expected him to cover the entire bill for 17 people, a sum he says was in the thousands.
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This realisation finally dawned on the 23-year-old when he asked for separate bills, after which his family looked at him as though he was "a thief", Mirror UK reports.
Taking to Reddit, the new graduate - who goes by the username u/XIANGHO - wrote: "I asked what was up and my aunt replies 'Oh you could do us the courteously of paying for our meals'.
"The bill was somewhere in the thousands. I am the only member of my mum's side of the family who went and graduated from college. So family was using the excuse 'We threw you a surprise party so the least you could do is pay'.
"Grandfather was confused and told them no. I am fine with paying for a bill that's in my budget range. I would have paid for everyone otherwise, but the bill was in the thousands. My family did not even look through the prices before ordering. Grandfather tried explaining that it was their problem."
They proceeded to argue back and forth, during which his family repeatedly suggested he would pay for their meals on the understanding they would pay him back.
He continued: "I told them about all the money they owe me. After about two minutes the argument went nowhere. I was called selfish because they are family and I was turning against them.
"I called the waiter, paid for mine and my grandfather's meal, and left with him. But I left them £174 ($200) to help cover. Instead of using it towards the bill, my aunt pocketed it and spent it on alcohol and cigarettes after leaving. Most of them brought their own money so they could pay. I was getting angry calls and visits saying I should have just been a man and paid."
The man has now turned to fellow Reddit users in a bid to figure out whether he in any way deserved his family's vitriol. The vast majority reassured him he was not the one in the wrong.
One person said: "First, they invited you. Second, it was your graduation, so they should be celebrating and treating you, not the other way around. Did they even give you gifts for graduation? If not, turn it around on them and next time they bring it up just tell them you thought it was their graduation gift to you."
Another commented: "Props to your grandfather for calling out bull c***. The rest of the family tricked you under the pretense of a surprise party for you when they actually wanted to put a fast one on you. Never accept their invitation again (unless it’s at McDonald’s for their value deal) since they’re only proud of your money."
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