Last year, an old friend of mine called and begged me to host her closest friends for a week at my home. Theyd decided to spend some time unwinding by the sea in our village. I felt awkward refusing, so I agreed, but I explained beforehand:
The holiday season is in full swing, I said, so I cant offer them a room for free. On the other hand, it doesnt feel right charging your friends.
My friend replied, Darling, theyll pay! Money is no problemthey just worry about getting scammed by those types who take payment upfront and then refuse to let guests in, or kick them out halfway through their holiday!
Well, I fell into the trap. If only Id known what this holiday would cost me, Id never have agreed.
I wasnt entirely comfortable with it, so I gave them a generous discount. They got a room at half the normal price.
When the big day came, instead of the expected family, a teenage girl turned up with a ten-year-old boy. They were friends, true enough, but three in a room wasnt idealand they didnt seem particularly content either!
Everyone was polite when we met. I tried to cook a nice meal, and after dinner I gave them a tour of our towns main sights. Wishing them all the best, I headed off to my classes.
On the second day, their son decided to shoot a water pistol at the television while it was on. His parents were in the room, but that didnt stop the prankster. The couple apologised, promising to pay for any repairs, but the television was damaged beyond use (still awaiting repair). I brought them a new TV from the room next door. How else would they spend their evenings?
Not long after, the family managed to burn my kettle. Turns out the teenager forgot to add water.
Next, they thought the room was too cramped and started rearranging the furniture. Unfortunately, during their renovations, they snapped two legsone from the bedside cabinet, the other from the table. They found it hilariousHa ha, youve got loads of furniture like this! Well tape the table leg up and itll be fine. Well wedge something under the cabinetno big deal.
The highlight was a raucous party that carried on until two in the morning. Shouting and drunken laughter. When I asked them to turn the music down at eleven, they responded, Relax, youre getting paid! True, the volume did drop after my second request.
Arguing with tipsy guests was pointless; I decided to wait until the next morning. Then, I had a frank talk with the couple, explaining that their behaviour simply couldnt go on. They werent the only ones on holiday here, and I asked them to be careful with household appliances.
They shrugged, clearly annoyed. Weve paid for this. Now I was angry. Thank you for coming as a friend of a friend. Otherwise, you wouldnt be here at all!
After that, they behaved a bit better, and things stopped breaking. But the friendship? That was finished.
In the end, we stopped speaking to one another. That didnt stop them from taking the gifts and souvenirs Id prepared for them and our mutual friend. And, of course, two large bath towels and a terracotta sheet disappeared from their room as well.
I should point out that these are the closest friends of my old friend. She and I had been mates all through secondary school, until she married and moved to another city. Shed described her friends as lovely, well-mannered people. If theyd truly behaved as such, they could have spent every summer here with us.
Thats just how it turned out. My friend stayed quiet for ages, but one day, in conversation, she admitted her friends hadnt enjoyed their stay: They said you were always picking at them and ruining the atmosphere. And thats despite paying loads of money!
Sorry, but what they paid wouldnt even cover a new TV, a kettle, table, cabinet, bed linen, and towels. Not to mention my frazzled nerves and the complaints from other guests. And it hurts the reputationnext year, tourists might go somewhere else.
But Ive learnt my lesson. Now I know its sometimes best to just say no.
