We were enjoying coffee together in the kitchen while my friend’s son watched cartoons, when suddenly a terrifying crash echoed through the house

Friday. My one precious proper day off, and I’d planned to get the flat sorted. Just as I was halfway through hoovering, my mate called out of the blue. She didnt really give me the choice informed me that she and her boy would be round shortly. I tried explaining that I was up to my elbows in cleaning, but she seemed to just brush it off.

Within ten minutes, the doorbell went and in they trotted. I wasnt particularly thrilled to see young Thomas he was a right handful, always into something.

We settled in the kitchen, mugs of tea in our hands, while Thomas watched cartoons in the lounge. Not long after, a thunderous crash echoed from the other room. I rushed in and found my aquarium smashed to bits. Fish scattered everywhere, and water seeping across the carpet and under the furniture.

My friend quickly darted over to Thomas to check he was alright, whilst I scrambled to sop up the water with an old towel, praying I wouldnt end up with the neighbours downstairs getting water through their ceiling. After the chaos had mostly subsided, she declared they were heading off.

Any chance you could help me take the rug to the cleaners? I asked. No, Thomas is terrified, I need to help him calm down, she replied.

I gently asked Thomas why he was near the aquarium at all. He claimed his paper plane had landed in it, so he tried to retrieve it. The odd thing was I couldnt see a paper plane anywhere. Thomas pointed to the cupboard and insisted thats where he got it. The penny dropped hed fashioned it out of my marriage certificate.

Youll have to just get another one. Its only a bit of paper, my friend told me.

So Im not meant to be upset. Replace the aquarium, sort out a new certificate, pay for any damage to the neighbours flat. Then, as if that wasnt enough, my friend blamed me for leaving the certificate in plain view.

Once theyd gone, I checked on the neighbour, made sure all was well, cleaned up afterwards and finally collapsed into bed. Then, later that night, my friend texted to say I owed her money theyd taken Thomas to see a psychologist as hed been frightened after the incident. I didnt reply, simply blocked her number.

Todays lesson: sometimes, folk can be so entitled, youre better off without them in your life.