Sometimes being subtle is the only way to fight back.

In today’s story, a woman shares what she did a few years back, when her mom ruined her 14th birthday on purpose.

She fought back and even found her way out of that situation, thanks to her pettiness.

Let’s see what happened.

She ruined my birthday

My birth mother isn’t a great person. Just gonna put that out there.

For my birthday, one year (I think maybe my 14th birthday?), she was mean about everything, for no reason.

She said things like, “don’t eat too much cake, you don’t want the extra pounds.”

“That’s all you have planned? Because you don’t have many friends?”

I planned to see a movie, have ice cream and go to the bowling alley afterwards.

Her mom was cruel in a petty way.

Apparently, she had already seen the movie, because she told me all about the movie I was about to see.

Later that night, she was at the bowling alley.

She got very loud and drunk. She talked very explicitly and got up to leave with two men.

She was trying to embarrass her daughter and she accomplished that.

As she was leaving, she said, “My daughter is OP, don’t tell her I’m leaving with these guys!”

So everyone made fun of me for having a promiscuous birth mother.

She tried talking to her mom… But she doubled down.

The day after my birthday I went to her house to confront of her about ruining my birthday.

She said more hurtful things. So fine.

I gathered up maybe about 15 or so crickets and let them loose in her bedroom.

The first night, I could hear the crickets but she did nothing.

Second night, same thing.

The plan was brewing, though.

The next day, I caught her looking at her bedroom windows and asked her what she was doing.

She said nothing and told me to go away.

Next night, she was angry and said I needed to go outside and stop the crickets from chirping.

I wasn’t quite sure how to do that, so I grabbed a drink, a snack and a book.

Let nature do its thing, geez.

I spent a while outside reading and snacking, came back inside and told my birth mom I squished every cricket I could find.

She said ‘good’.

That morning, I woke up to her sleeping on the couch.

She was on the phone with one of her friends later, telling her friend how horrible it was to get no sleep because all she could hear were crickets all night long.

Interesting.

She caught me smiling and accused me of doing something.

I said “I’m not sure what you mean. But if I did do something, it would be well deserved and then some for ruining my birthday and having school peers bully me because my mom left the bowling alley with two guys.”

And it had amazing repercussions.

She got very angry and kicked me out.

I went to go and live with my grandmother again, where I told her what happened.

She told me that it was a bad thing to do and then she cheered pop cans with me and smiled.

Sometimes the ends really justify the means.

Let’s see what Reddit has to say about this.

A reader shares their thoughts.

A movie recommendation.

Yup.

Someone shares their point of view.

Another reader chimes in.

They really did their job!

Who needs birds, mice and princes when you have very loud crickets?

Matilda would be proud.

If you liked that post, check this one about a guy who got revenge on his condo by making his own Christmas light rules.