AITA for demanding my cousin reimburse me for her kids?
AITA
A 24-year-old Dragon Ball fan found his cherished collection destroyed by his cousin's teenage kids during an unannounced visit. Despite the emotional and financial value of the ruined items, his cousin flat-out refuses to reimburse him. This story raises important questions about family responsibility and respect for personal boundaries. In this case, the cousin's refusal to make amends not only violates trust but also dismisses the emotional investment involved in the collection.
When Family Bonds Break Over Broken Collectibles: A Real-Life Tale of Dragon Balls and Damages.
Look, family is family, but there's a line, right? I came across this story of a 24-year-old dude who had his cherished Dragon Ball collection and artwork absolutely trashed by his cousin's kids. So, obviously, he asks his cousin to cough up some cash to make it right, but she flat-out refuses. I mean, can you believe it?
The Story
Our guy, let's call him Goku for clarity's sake, is a lifelong Dragon Ball fan. He's got a whole room decked out with figures, Dragon Balls, and even a Goku drawing he spent three months on. Now, his cousin (33F) and her three teenagers stop by unannounced. Fine, they're like family, no biggie. While he’s out grocery shopping, he tells them he'll be back soon. All good, right? Wrong.
The youngest of the bunch, a 14-year-old, asks Goku for some money, gets upset when he says no (as if that's grounds for a tantrum), and then things go south. The next day, Goku finds out his Dragon Ball sanctuary has been turned upside-down. Everything is busted, including his prized drawing.
Money Matters
He rings up his cousin, gives her a piece of his mind, and then drops the bomb—she owes him $1,500 for the damages. And mind you, this is him being lenient. The original collection costs over $3,000. His cousin not only refuses to pay but also says it's his fault for not locking the door. Here's the kicker: that door doesn't even have a lock.
Responsibility, Anyone?
We're not just talking knick-knacks from the dollar store; this is a serious collection that meant a lot to Goku. The cousin's kids didn't just violate his space; they annihilated parts of his childhood and passion. So yeah, of course, he wants reimbursement, and why shouldn't he? Sure, kids can be reckless, but they're her kids, and she was the one with access to the house. Responsibility, hello?
The Fallout
As it stands, the cousin's been banned from Goku's house until she pays up, and she's acting like that's no big deal. Um, excuse me, but if your family wrecks someone's stuff, you make it right. That's just basic decency. But according to her, he's the one at fault for not having a lock? Come on.
So, Is He The A-hole?
Nah, not in my book. When you give someone access to your personal space, especially family, there's a mutual understanding of respect. What his cousin's kids did goes beyond a simple 'oops' moment; it's a calculated act of destruction, and they need to be held accountable, even if they're "just kids."
In short, the question here isn't whether Goku's an A-hole for demanding payment. It's more like, why are we letting people off the hook for such terrible behavior just because they're family? Sometimes blood isn't thicker than water—or in this case, Dragon Balls.