After Caring for My Elderly Neighbor, Her Son Blamed Me for ‘Doing Too Little’ – What Happened Next Was Shocking

I Cared for My Elderly Neighbor, but Her Son Accused Me of Doing Too Little – The Consequences Were Brutal

Living in a peaceful area, Debbie grows close to Mrs. Jenkins, her elderly neighbor, and starts taking care of her. Deb, however, is forced to take care of her mother at home after her mother needs surgery. only for Mrs. Jenkins’ son Steve to give her a terrible call and accuse her of not doing enough.

See, I wasn’t seeking retribution against anyone, particularly not for simply being considerate to an old neighbor.

My next-door neighbor, Mrs. Jenkins, is an 82-year-old widow who lives in a peaceful neighborhood. She’s weak, alone, and quite frankly, depressed. She seems to have been abandoned by her own kin. Steve, her only son, lives just 20 minutes away, but he doesn’t come around much.

She always seemed so lost, staring off into the horizon, when I saw her on the porch. I began to assist her wherever I could since my heart went out to her.

I have been doing little errands for more than a year now. groceries, appointments, shoveling snow in the winter and leaves out of her driveway in the fall.

She commented to me one morning after I delivered her groceries, which included some freshly made bread for breakfast, “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Debbie.”

“I’m here for anything you need, Marlene,” I replied.

It wasn’t much, to be honest, but knowing that I was contributing made me feel good. particularly considering how distant her own family was.

When I questioned her about Steve one day, she answered, “Steve?” “I know I don’t mean as much to my son as that youngster does, but that kid means everything to me. It’s alright. You’re present.”

She would always grin as if I were her best friend.

This man who knew so little about his mother’s day-to-day existence dared to say that I wasn’t doing enough.

However, when I had to spend a few weeks out of town, things took a terrible turn. My mother was in the hospital due to fibroids and cysts that needed to be removed, therefore I was powerless to stop it.

I had to accompany her there. There was not an alternative.

“I’m coming, Mom,” I announced. “Don’t you worry about a thing.”

“But, Deb,” my mom complained. “I wish not to annoy you with your routine. Now that my father is here, I won’t mind.”

“I work from home, Mom. I can work remotely,” I declared firmly. In any case, making chicken noodle soup is Dad’s version of showing someone he cares for. That’s all there is to it. You’re scheduled for a surgical procedure. You require me.”

I made sure Mrs. Jenkins had everything she needed, loaded her up with groceries, and asked our neighbor Karen to stop over and see how she was doing before I left.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can, Marlene,” I replied. “You have nothing to worry about. Additionally, I’ve requested young Josh to visit and check your mail. He is aware that he must deliver anything in your mailbox directly to you.

She said, “Darling, thank you.” “You’re too good to me.”

I believed I had everything covered.

I was making dinner when my phone called ten days into my stay with my parents. Even though I didn’t recognize the number, I answered.

When I replied, the speaker yelled, “Debbie?” “Are you the neighbor who’s supposed to be taking care of my mom?”

Steve was the one. Mrs. Jenkins’ son. The man who hardly visited his own mother.

I became anxious for a little moment, praying that she had not suffered any harm.

He didn’t even wait for me to finish before saying, “I just got a call from my mother,” “Her milk ran dry. And you’re not in the city? Why did you leave before making sure she had enough?”

I was completely taken aback. This man who knew so little about his mother’s day-to-day existence dared to say that I wasn’t doing enough.

Me?

“Steve,” I managed to say while trying not to panic. My mom is in the hospital, therefore I’m not in town. I should be over here. I filled your mother up before I departed. In addition, I checked in with our neighbor Karen.”

Like any other individual, he should have apologized and offered to help, but instead he shot back.

“Well, Debbie, it simply isn’t acceptable. You must provide my mother the best care possible if you are going to do so! I can’t always be rushing around bringing her stuff every time you forget something.”

I nearly let out a cry. This man’s audacity was remarkable.

When I’d been taking care of her every step of the way, how could he accuse me of letting her down? especially when he did nothing but sit back and watch!

I inhaled deeply.

She’s your mother, Steve. While you’re standing there, you can’t expect me to do everything for her and do nothing! Perhaps, just for once, you ought to assist her.”

His reply was merely depressing.

He said, “You’re pathetic.” “You don’t even do that much for her.”

I simply ended the call before I could go back at them. I didn’t want to hurt Marlene by saying something harsher, but I also didn’t want to take the chance of it coming back to haunt me.

Later, I kept thinking about that talk over and over as I sat with my mom in her hospital room. I knew exactly what I needed to do by the time I arrived home.

My mother said, “Go home, honey,” when I told her about Steve’s phone call. “I’m doing terrific, and I’ve made amazing progress. The physician is quite pleased with me. As I promised, Dad and I will be alright.

I missed my own house, even though I truly didn’t want to go. I also missed having my own workspace. So I moved on after a few days.

The first thing I did after returning was see how Mrs. Jenkins was doing. Fortunately, she was alright. It turns out that Mrs. Jenkins was unaware of the mayhem Steve had caused, and Karen had handled the milk matter.

“What? Really? Did he say that? Shocked, she exclaimed.

Steve needed to take charge. It did not cheer him up. Not at all.

I wasn’t going to let Steve get away with this, as happy as I was that he hadn’t told her any lies about me.

I gently informed Mrs. Jenkins the following day that I would not be able to assist her as much.

Sad to say, “I have other commitments, Marlene,” I remarked. “I also need to visit my mother more frequently. Over the coming weeks, she will require my assistance.”

She assured me that she understood, but her expression betrayed disappointment.

After a few weeks, Steve was forced to take over. He was obviously not pleased about it. There were times when I could see him leaving for his mother’s house while I was working from my living room. He seemed furious all the time, as if his mother’s errands were the greatest burden anyone could have given him.

The next time I saw Mrs. Jenkins, she told me that she was depending more on Steve and grinned.

“I give him a call for everything,” she declared. “Milk, teabags, and even help with the gutters.”

Mrs. Jenkins asked me to assist her in going through some old papers one afternoon. It was then that we discovered her will.

Steve was the only benefit, of course.

I remarked nonchalantly, “It’s unfortunate that Steve cannot spend more time with you.” “You know, with work and whatnot.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” sobbed Mrs. Jenkins. “However, that’s how he’s been. I sometimes believe that he is there to see what I will leave him.”

All I needed was that assurance.

“Marlene, you know,” I murmured. “You’re not required to entrust Steve with everything. Giving to a good cause or leaving something for the people who have supported you no matter what would be wonderful. It’s a very kind gesture. Consider it.”

“You’re right, Debbie,” she remarked. “I’ll think about it.”

Mrs. Jenkins revised her will a week later. She left large chunks of her estate to many charities, but Steve still received his share. She also left me a small gift, even though I didn’t ask for it.

Money was not the main concern. It was intended to demonstrate to Steve the repercussions of carelessness and greed.

Steve knocked ferociously on my door after storming to my residence after learning of it.

“You managed to persuade my mother to part with my inheritance? You cunning little one.

Before he could complete his sentence, I interrupted.

“I failed to persuade her in any way. Perhaps if you spent more time getting to know her, you might understand her true desires.”

Steve spat, his cheeks flushing. I could see it in his eyes as he hurled a couple more slurs and stormed off.

He was aware of his defeat.

I’m taking the wonderful Mrs. Jenkins to the ballet later this week because she’s happier than ever right now. Steve is pouting, perhaps lamenting the time he lost.

What about me? Knowing that Steve isn’t abusing Mrs. Jenkins makes me pleased.