I’m a 27-year-old man who has been in the same close-knit circle of friends since college. There are roughly eight of us in all. However, Susan and Greg, two members of the gang, have a reputation for being total freeloaders.
Every time we go out, they order the priciest things on the menu and then start complaining about how “money is tight.” The bill is then miraculously divided such that everyone else pays for a significant portion of their meal.
My friend Dan asked me to a laid-back dinner last weekend. I told him up front that I had no interest in going if Susan or Greg were. Dan begged me to attend nonetheless and “just put it aside for once” even though he acknowledged they would be there. I agreed against my better judgment.
When we get together—only six individuals showed up—everyone begins placing their orders. The majority of the group selected typical dinners that cost about $40. Then, for almost $200 apiece, Susan and Greg order these absurd dishes.
Everyone stared at me as if I were going to place my own meal order when it was my turn. Rather, I informed the waitress that was all and gestured to a $4 Miller Lite. I simply replied that I had lost my appetite when Dan asked why I wasn’t receiving anything. Two more buddies then got up, opted to only buy drinks instead of meals, and canceled their orders.
Susan and Greg hardly touched their supper when it arrived. The check then arrived.
Greg tried to play the standard game right away, waving the waiter over and requesting a six-way split. I got up at that point and told him, “No, split it three ways.”
Greg wondered why we “always” split equally, seeming perplexed. I informed him that three of us were just paying for our beverages because none of us had eaten. All of a sudden, the math was no longer in their favor.
Dan ended up with a $146.98 bill after just eating roughly $50 worth of food. The expression on his face when he saw the sum is something I will always remember.
I paid for my drink by sliding $10 toward the check, bid farewell, and left.
My phone was overflowing with texts the following morning. Greg and Susan were enraged, accusing me of “not ordering food” and forcing them to pay more than they had anticipated. Dan messaged me in the meantime, telling me that I should have stayed at home rather than pulling a practical joke that resulted in an absurd cost.
For background, the bar bill at this restaurant is distinct even though most establishments in Australia, where I live, don’t perform separate checks. Dan could have requested that Susan and Greg send him the money, but he has a tendency to “assist” people with their alleged financial difficulties, even when they are clearly abusing their position.
To be honest? It might have been petty. However, I’m sick of having to comply as they take advantage of everyone like an ATM.
