Gazebo Ideas Backyard

... work, just sitting in the backyard gazebo swing talking. After Jonathan left ... we went out to the gazebo swing, till it was time ... I went out to the backyard swing, to sit and talk. ...”. Mom always has such wonderful ideas.

Looking for budget friendly backyard makeover ideas. Ideally would like to add a gazebo or patio but don't want to spend alot of money on concrete pad. Please share your ideas what i can do here. Thanks! https://preview.redd.it/y9yvtujsx50h1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=571814f79e2c35e3b2784ac2965a113b80dc6dc6 https://preview.redd.it/qpskt2ksx50h1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=55c40184d51083afd33922aebcc0422b8cd94103 https://reddit.com/link/1t8h55t/video/ibog9w5c060h1/player submitted by /u/ravz22 to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

Renovating my entire backyard. Any ideas on what to do with this (left) side of my backyard? (low maintenance and drought tolerant preferably). The middle area will be all grass and the opposite side next to the grass area I’ve poured concrete for a gazebo/patio area. submitted by /u/Smart_Accountant7343 to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

We’re looking for ideas on how to redesign the back of our house and would really appreciate input from people who’ve tackled similar layouts. We have a bungalow with a raised deck (12’ x 16’) off a sliding patio door on the right side of the rear of the house. The rear of the house faces south-west. The yard slopes gently away from the house and opens up into the backyard (which is on 4 acres). The back of the house also has multiple egress basement windows spread across the wall. Because of that, building a large, full-width deck doesn’t seem like a great option (we don’t want to block light or access). ⸻ What we’d like to incorporate: - A cooking / BBQ and pizza oven area close to the patio door - A comfortable seating (not dining) area - A screened room for bug-free use in warmer months - A layout that feels intimate and intentional (not slapped together) ⸻ Constraints / considerations: - Basement windows need to remain unobstructed and functional - The a/c unit is super loud and obnoxious when running - We want to preserve natural light into the house - The yard is wide and open, so we’re open to spreading things out rather than keeping everything tight to the house - Located in Canada (on bedrock, in the Ottawa region), so snow, drainage, and durability matter The gazebo has been removed and donated. Thank you for your ideas and suggestions. submitted by /u/SATC to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Far_Research_8759 to r/Shed [link] [comments]

I moved into my house earlier this year, the backyard hasn’t been touched and wondering if you guys have ideas on what I should do? In WA state. Grass? Turf? Micro clover? Patio with gazebo? Want to make the best use and the trees are a bit difficult. submitted by /u/Davidngoldsmith to r/landscapedesign [link] [comments]

I would love some ideas about what to do with my backyard. So far the plan is to have a large shade tree in the right corner of the retaining wall, some smaller trees along the both side fences for a little privacy, and a 10x10 gazebo in the left corner of the retaining wall. My main question is, is it not a good idea to have a gazebo in addition to the covered patio i already have? I wanted to put the gazebo in the corner but now I'm thinking of we have a bunch of people over, why would they want to be in two separate groups? Can the gazebo just be esthetic? I would also love some ideas for the covered patio. I plan on tiling the slab. submitted by /u/OneManFight to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

This is the bottom of my backyard. The top is behind that white fence. Anyone have ideas on how to best utilize this space without breaking bank. We are planning to level it a little bit but it’s not going to be completely leveled with top due to elevation. I want to use the bottom for entertainment space like gazebo but also a small garden. all ideas are welcome. Visuals are appreciated if anyone can see it submitted by /u/ktpat1994 to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

I have a roughly 30x15 foot backyard which is compacted dirt. I rent my apartment and want potential solutions for creating a base that is not too difficult and renter friendly, something I can remove at a later date and be quite close to the basic compacted dirt state it is currently in. I want to place furniture outside and maybe a firepit with a gazebo. Something to liven up the space and have utility. I considered placing pavers but am concerned with having to add sand/gravel first and how potentially hard that will be to remove at a later time, I'm not sure. I considered interlocking deck tiles as well. I considered just placing the pavers or tiles over the dirt but have read that may not be an easy idea. I just need a decent sturdy foundation that is not dirt that I can place the items I mentioned on top of that will at least last 1-2 years, and be relatively easy install and take down. Please help. I have no experience in this area. Thank you! I don't want to commit to something and regret that decision. submitted by /u/MattSaCA to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

How do I improve my backyard patio floor. The loose pebbles and sand in between pavers grow a lot of weed. Looking to DIY. I’d like to keep the pavers as they are since irs too hard to remove them. What can I replace the pebbles with? Or are there pebble varieties that dont move easily? These tiny ones blow over easily and the sand is easily displaced submitted by /u/BurnorRAI to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

Overall I'm looking at adding a shed, and a horseshoe pit and some trees, shrubs and flowers. But also have ideas like a gazebo or just a pathway. Just not sure what to do with all this space. Located in Denver if that helps. submitted by /u/methtical13 to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

Hey there, just looking for ideas for backyard. Sauna? New interlock? Gazebo? Backyard is smallish so I am unsure. Thanks! submitted by /u/haydioman to r/ExteriorDesign [link] [comments]

Small backyard. Looking for ideas to create a nice space for bbq’s and hanging out. (Was planning on building a sauna as well as a gazebo, but am unsure with the size of my yard). Thanks! submitted by /u/haydioman to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

I am NOT the Original Poster. That is still Long_Assistant8873. They posted in r/AITAH Previous BORU here. New Update marked with ****\* Thanks to u/Direct-Caterpillar77, u/Lynavi and u/Choice_Evidence1983 Do NOT Comment on Original Posts. Latest update is 7 days old per the rules of this sub. This new update has NOT been posted on this sub before. Trigger Warnings: stalking; harassment; verbal abuse Mood Spoiler: things are a bit better for OOP Original Post: February 10, 2025 Here is the situation. Last summer, I bought my grandparents' house. This house was the hangout spot for my friends and I throughtout our childhood. This includes my friend "Dave." The house has a sizable amount of land, which includes a lake and a gazebo. I was supposed to buy the house with my now ex-girlfriend ("Leslie"). But, going through the process of getting approved to buy, I found out that she has massive amounts of credit card and personal debt that she hide from me throughout our four years together. I decided to breakup as a result. That was about six months ago. I met Leslie because Dave's long-term girlfriend ("Kim") is Leslie's cousin. Dave and Kim are engaged and set to get married in April. When I was buying the house, they asked if they could have the ceremony at the gazebo, which I agreed to do. In December, I started dating again. Leslie has not taken this well at all. She thinks we are going to get back together and has tried multiple times to make that happen. I have told her in no uncertain terms that isn't happening. Dave and Kim have asked me to not bring a plus-one to the wedding for "Leslie's sake." I have told them that this request is ridiculous. This wedding is happening at my house, using my land, and I am not allowed to bring a date because of a crazy ex? If that is the case, then they need to find a new venue for the wedding. They are pissed about this given the short time frame of when the wedding is supposed ot happen. So, we are at an impasse. AITA? Edit I have seen a few things brought up a number of times in the comments, so I will quickly address them here: I am fully aware of the liability issues, which is why I purchased, and they reimbursed me for a "special event" insurance policy which will provide 100% coverage for any damges, claims, injuries, etc. to any of the property or persons up to $2M. It is one of the first things we did after I agreed to have the event in my home. The wedding will have a maximum, if every comes, of 75 guests, 5 catering staff, and 5 security staff (the security is because this is an open area that anyone walking past can access). The house has hosted events twice this size and logistically it has been fine. On the property are two cottages, one with one bathroom and the other with two bathrooms. The only portion of my house that will not be locked during the wedding is the finished basement. The basement has two bathrooms. Every person who is single (ie. not in an established relationship) received an invitation with a plus-one, including me and Leslie. This talk came after I sent in my return card and indicated I was bringing a plus-one. Now, they are saying they do not want me to have the plus-one because Leslie blew up about it and they are afraid of a blowup at the wedding. Leslie indicated she intends to bring someone on her card. I do not know if she will actually bring someone. Some of OOP's Comments: (OOP responded to mostly negative ones) Top Commenter: Pull an Uno Reverse. Tell them Leslie isn't allowed on your property and watch their heads explode. OOP: The petty part of me did absolutely consider saying, "Well, Leslie cannot come to my house or on my land so it shouldn't be a problem." Commenter: Out of curiosity, are either you and/or Leslie in the wedding party? OOP: Leslie is in the wedding party. Dave is the youngest of 5 boys, so all his groomsmen are his brothers. Commenter (downvoted): This one is really tough. I'm going with ESH, although it was more or less a toss up with that and NAH. Listen, I get it. It's your house, and you're doing them a favor. But is bringing a date when you've been dating again for 2 months really a hill you want your friendship to die on? She isn't just your ex, she is the bride's family. Can't you go it alone for this one day? Or bring a friend instead of romantic interest so you aren't intentionally causing drama at your friends wedding? If you take the venue out of it, would you expect to bring a date? And if the answer is no, did you tell them when you said you could use the house that there was such a big string attached? Their wedding is in April, telling them to find somewhere else at this point is a huge most likely friendship ending thing. OOP: I do not consider this a big string attached. All of our single friends have a plus-one. Leslie has a plus-one. I am literally the only person, who is not in an established couple, who ithey do not want to have a plus-one. I would expect to be treated like every other guest. I know Leslie is Kim's family, but Dave and I have been family to each other. I have known Dave since I was three years old. We grew up together. This makes it feel like we are not as close as I previously thought. And if I knew they would ever consider treating me like a stranger, which is what this feels like, I absolutely would have never agreed to let them use my land for the wedding. To a downvoted commenter: For the last six months, my life, because of Leslie, has been drama. Every person who will be at the wedding is in some way or form connected to the drama. The woman I am dating is not. I want someone who is disconnected from this drama who I do not feel like I have to walk on eggshells around. My peace also matters. All I am asking is for them to tell Leslie, "just act like an adult for four hours." But, instead, they rather have me be uncomfortable than to have that talk. When I am doing what I can to help them with this wedding. Why security? OOP: Security is to keep people out. This is an open area. [to another commenter] The wedding is outside. I have acres of land and it is largely unfenced (including this section). Any stranger could easily walk up on the event. Commenter (downvoted): One thing... You are not entitled to Leslie's financial information as a boyfriend, even a long term boyfriend. She was not 'hiding it from you', it was none of your business. It became your business when merging finances became a likelihood. OOP: I am entitled to not being told lies. In conversations about finances, she misrepresented her financial status. She is the one who initiated our conversations about money about six months into the relationship and then hid information for years about her financial situation. She demanded to know about my income, debt, and savings. I provided it because I thought we were planning a future together. I asked for the same information and she described her credit card debt as "very little." Sorry, but $50K of CC debt is not "very little." If her view was, "you do not have a right to know," then ok. But, that was not her view at all. So, yeah, she hid it from me. Commenter: How much debt was she in aside from the 50k OOP: About $30K in student loans and owes about $20K on a car. We could pay off the credit card debt in probably about 3 years time. My issue is her lying about it. I lost trust in her. To a downvoted "be the bigger person" comment [I liked OOP's response] As my therapist says, "being the bigger person does not mean allowing yourself to be stepped on. It means loving people when they do not deserve it. And love rarely looks like capitulation." Update Post: February 17, 2025 (1 week later) So, I met with Dave this morning. We talked for almost two hours about everything. I laid it out that I thought he was, at best, a shitty friend. I went through our long history of various things over the years that has me questioning our friendship. That was the bulk of our conversation. We then turned to the breakup with Leslie and the shitshow of the last six months. Throughout the last six months, despite Leslie's craziness, I have bent over backwards to try and accommodate her feelings. She has shown up to my house in the middle of the night. I did not go for a restraining order. When I go out, I do not go to places I know that her and her family like to go. She has implied to her family and mutual friends, at various times, that I cheated and/or that I took advantage of her financially. Neither of which is true at all. I have held my tongue to not embarass her about these things in front of her friends and family. Dave knowns all that and yet is demanding, once again, that I put Leslie's feelings before my own. I said, "You and everyone need to stop coddling her like she is a fucking child." Dave concedes that Leslie has been crazy and ridiculous since the breakup. But, he says, "she feels she did not get closure after the relationship. She wants to have an evening where she can talk to you to get that closure." He also told me that Leslie has been very vigilant about paying off her debt and paid off almost $10,000 of the credit card debt. She wants to talk to me about her progress. to see if that might cause me to change my mind. It will not. I asked him, "So, do you expect me to go to the wedding and talk to her? Because I have her blocked everywhere and, date or not, I do not plan to say a single mumbling word to her." He said, "I fully expect she would lose it if y'all do not talk at the wedding." I told him if that is the case, then, for the good of my property, I can't have Leslie come. If she is so unstable that I need to be coercied into a conversation with her, she is too unsafe to be a guest, in any capacity in my home. So, I have told him, based on what he has told me, Leslie cannot come to my house or on my land. I am willing to still have the wedding at my place, but I cannot trust Leslie won't do something given what you are telling me. Dave lost it at this point. He said, "Fuck you and your shit! I don't need it!" So, I said, then the wedding is off. He left. So, that is the state of things Top Comments on Post: UndebateableMom: To add .... the DAY of the wedding is not the time to get closure and AT THE WEDDING is not the place to get closure. Your friends are okay with her hijacking their ceremony so she can sleep better at night? Yeah - that would be a big "not happening" - any of it - from me. bookgeek1987: Well I think one of your key takeaways from this is that you need to start living your life, stop avoiding places you normally go to, clarify to people why you broke up (not that you cheated) and put together any evidence of her crazy behaviour so you can get a restraining order if needed. You also need to tell people why the wedding isn’t happening at your place, as you know they’re going to make you out to be the bad guy…. Some of OOP's Comments: [editor's note- OOP only replied to the more controversial and downvoted comments. I included these couple because they gave more insight into his background and to show how he refuted several of the common downvoted critiques.] To a deleted comment: My peace of mind matters. And I offered a solution that keeps the peace, while also not exposing me to the chaos that is Leslie, Leslie does not come to the wedding. I would have been willing to let them have it at my place then. I would be willing to not come to the wedding myself to make it "fair." Meeting/Speaking with Leslie is not keeping the peace. It disrupts my peace of mind. Commenter (downvoted): You handled this awfully. You don't start a heart to heart about your ex girlfriend by laying out every grievance you've ever had in your relationship with Dave. Where do you expect him to be mentally/emotionally when you even start the conversation about your ex? No wonder he blew up at the end, he felt attacked. OOP: This was not a heart-to-heart about my ex. This was a heart-to-heart with Dave about our relationship (his and mine). We have talked about Leslie. I was done with those discussions months ago. I made that clear when setting it up. Because I understand Leslie's position, I under Kim's position, but I did not understand Dave's position. He knew all the shit and was still acting that way. Commenter (not downvoted when originally put in this post) [...] I think wealth attracts assholes, and I think OP is probably a bit sheltered cognitively that his wealth has always given him power over people's behavior to a certain extent, and I think a large part of the shock for OP here is that the friend is walking away from that dynamic. OOP: I have no idea why you think that I grew up wealthy and sheltered. I did not. You notice I did not mention my parents in the post. That is because my parents were too broke to care for me, as determined by the state. My grandparents had enough to where I could grow up middle class. Meaning, no worries about my basic necessities (clothing, food, & shelter). But, anything beyond those was on me. College was paid for by scholarships and work-study jobs. Grad school was paid for by my employer. I now make relatively good money. And that money stretches quite far because I live in a fairly low-cost rural community and have no kids. If I lived where my job's office is located, I would be living in a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate. And Dave and I's dynamic historically has been me going along with whatever he wants often to my detriment. I think that is why they came to me rather than even attempt to get Leslie to behave. My shock is that I thought he legitimately cared about my feelings and well-being. This experience makes it clear he does not. *****New Update Post: May 10, 2025 (a bit less than 3 months later)****\* People have asked for an update. Now that the original date of the wedding has passed, I think it is appropriate. In the weeks following the discussion with Dave from my last update, a number of our mutual friends reached out to me and asked if, "if everything was ok." I ignored these messages and went about living my life. Dave reached out to my grandparents. My grandparents said I need to talk to Dave and figure it out. I ignored them. About a month after my last update, Dave's mom reached out. She said, "OP, I hope you are doing well. Can I come and listen to you? I know a number of people what to tell you what they think, but I just want to hear you. I will say as few or as many words as you want. If you do not want to, I completely understand." Her tone and tenor was different than everyone else, so I decided to meet up. We met on the back porch of my house. I told her everything: the breakup with Leslie (including why we broke up), getting the invitation with the plus-one, the subsequent meeting with Dave and Kim rescinding the plus-one because Leslie was upset, and then meeting up with Dave and everything discussed with him and my decision to say they cannot use my property for the wedding. After I explained everything, I was pretty upset. She asked, "Can I give you a hug?" I said yes. She gave me a hug while I cried for a bit. She asked if there is anything I wanted her to say. I asked her for her perspective on everything. She talked about how she did not really know about why Leslie and I broke up. She had heard rumors about me cheating and the like, but she didn't believe them. But, she didn't know why we broke up because she thought we were happy and had a good relationship. She admitted she was upset by it because she was looking forward to coming to our future wedding, Dave and I having kids around the same age, and those kids sending time together at her house like Dave and I used to do. But, ultimately she felt it was not her place to say anything since I am a grown man entitled to live my life how I see fit. She said Dave can be a "jackass" and was being one here. She told me Leslie's behavior was out of line, but she did deeply empathize with Leslie. Dave's mom told me things I did not know about her [Dave's mom's] breakup with a longterm boyfriend before she met Dave's dad and how for a year and a half, she was an absolute wreck of a person. During that time, she said she did a lot of things she is not proud of and were out of character for her. She told me she dreamed about a certain life she was going to have, and that dream was scattered, and for a year and a half, she would have done anything to get that dream back. So, she cannot judge Leslie, but thinks Leslie needs therapy. We shot the shit for a bit and she then left. For the next couple of weeks, I kept getting calls and texts about, "what is going on?" from various people involved. I decided to just, in a rather factual way, lay everything out. I drafted a mass text message and laid out exactly why the wedding was not happening at my home. I went through everything I had shared with Dave's mom. I also sent an email. I let it be known that if anyone showed up to my house on the original wedding date, I would call the police. After I sent the message and email, a number of mutual acquantiances and friends apologized to me for how they have contributed to the situation. Also, shit apparently hit the fan on the wedding. Dave had lied about our conversation to Kim. He apparently told her he begged and pleaded with me to let them have the wedding on my property. Dave reached out to me to "apologize" and see if I would be willing to talk. I told him I thought it was best that we do not talk for awhile. A lot of people are mad at Leslie and her family is blaming her for the wedding situation. No one showed up to the house on the original day of the wedding. As far as I know, the wedding date is in limbo. Some of OOP's Comments: Commenter: Why is Dave so invested in Leslie’s feeling instead of his best friend’s or his fiancée’s? OOP: I 100% guarantee you Dave is doing Kim's bidding. Kim definitely wants Leslie and I back together. Commenter: I dunno, you made it sound like Kim was pissed at Dave for lying about the venue situation. OOP: She is pissed he lied about our conversation. She very much wants to do the wedding on my property. But, she very much wants Leslie at the wedding and for us to reconcile. In other words, as it relates to Leslie, Dave is doing exactly what Kim wants. Commenter: I'm curious if you know what the debt she has was for. Does she have a shopping addiction, was she simply living beyond her means, was there a period she didn't work, etc? OOP: I do not know all the details of how she accumulated the debt. It was over the course of years and do to various issues. For me, it did not matter what the issue was because fundamentally I could not trust her because she lied. Commenter: I agree it was wrong of her to lie about him cheating and trying to make him jealous with a +1. But that kinda goes to what Dave's mom was saying that even she said and did things after a breakup that she's not proud of looking back at it. I agree with her that she probably needs therapy, but I'd say OP probably needs some as well. As for the bride and groom, they not only expect her to try to reconcile at their wedding, they're actively helping her to the point of being willing to have her cause a scene at their own wedding. Maybe their more her friends than his, but I think there's more to the story than what's in the posts. OOP: There isn't more to the story. Leslie and Kim are cousins, best friends, and were raised like sisters. Dave will do whatever to make Kim happy. Kim set us up and want Leslie and I together Commenter: I know Dave told you that she'd paid off some of it, but did he ever say anything about her explaining to him or Kim as to why she racked up the debt and why she lied about for so long? Also did he or Kim just let her lie to people about you cheating and not try to stop her or set the record straight with people? OOP: All I know is she is paying it off with every bit of spare money she has. She is living with family for free, took a second part-time job, and is paying it off. I have no idea what she told Dave about how she got the debt and/or why she lied. It makes no difference to me. I have no idea how the rumor of me cheating started. I have no idea if Leslie started it or someone else. This is a small rural community and rumors spread here with unknown origins. I have no idea what if anything Dave, Kim, and/or Leslie have done as it relates to these rumors. Does not matter to me at this point. I just want the record and facts to be straight. I much rather not have my breakup discussed at all in the town square. I just want people to leave me alone. Do not really care if they believe I cheated or not. Top Comment on Post: Sifiisnewreality: I love Dave’s mom. lumiranswife: 100/10 on the approach and offer to just listen. The healing salve OP needed while everyone else was just chattering a narrative about him. Feeling heard had to have been so healing, and it did seem to yield some clarity for OP. I like that she empathized without excusing and didn't whatabout OP for other people having struggles, too. She seems like one of those people who can contain two perspectives of the same story with grace. Acknowledging the truths (Dave can be difficult, the girl was struggling) and yet somehow sounding nonjudgmental of anyone was a lovely way to ally with OP. I'd still dump Dave, but any way we can keep his mom? I wish her a lovely Mother's Day. Again, do not comment on Original Posts. Rule 7. Latest update is 7 days old (rule 8). This update has not been posted on this sub before. It may have been on a different sub with no wait time. submitted by /u/LucyAriaRose to r/BestofRedditorUpdates [link] [comments]

I am NOT the Original Poster. That is Long_Assistant8873. They posted in r/AITAH Thanks to u/BakingGiraffeBakes and u/anicole325 for the rec. Do NOT comment on Original Posts. Latest update is 7 DAYS OLD per the rules of this sub. This has not been posted here before. Trigger Warnings: stalking; harassment; verbal abuse Mood Spoiler: frustrating and sad for OOP Original Post: February 10, 2025 Here is the situation. Last summer, I bought my grandparents' house. This house was the hangout spot for my friends and I throughtout our childhood. This includes my friend "Dave." The house has a sizable amount of land, which includes a lake and a gazebo. I was supposed to buy the house with my now ex-girlfriend ("Leslie"). But, going through the process of getting approved to buy, I found out that she has massive amounts of credit card and personal debt that she hide from me throughout our four years together. I decided to breakup as a result. That was about six months ago. I met Leslie because Dave's long-term girlfriend ("Kim") is Leslie's cousin. Dave and Kim are engaged and set to get married in April. When I was buying the house, they asked if they could have the ceremony at the gazebo, which I agreed to do. In December, I started dating again. Leslie has not taken this well at all. She thinks we are going to get back together and has tried multiple times to make that happen. I have told her in no uncertain terms that isn't happening. Dave and Kim have asked me to not bring a plus-one to the wedding for "Leslie's sake." I have told them that this request is ridiculous. This wedding is happening at my house, using my land, and I am not allowed to bring a date because of a crazy ex? If that is the case, then they need to find a new venue for the wedding. They are pissed about this given the short time frame of when the wedding is supposed ot happen. So, we are at an impasse. AITA? Edit I have seen a few things brought up a number of times in the comments, so I will quickly address them here: I am fully aware of the liability issues, which is why I purchased, and they reimbursed me for a "special event" insurance policy which will provide 100% coverage for any damges, claims, injuries, etc. to any of the property or persons up to $2M. It is one of the first things we did after I agreed to have the event in my home. The wedding will have a maximum, if every comes, of 75 guests, 5 catering staff, and 5 security staff (the security is because this is an open area that anyone walking past can access). The house has hosted events twice this size and logistically it has been fine. On the property are two cottages, one with one bathroom and the other with two bathrooms. The only portion of my house that will not be locked during the wedding is the finished basement. The basement has two bathrooms. Every person who is single (ie. not in an established relationship) received an invitation with a plus-one, including me and Leslie. This talk came after I sent in my return card and indicated I was bringing a plus-one. Now, they are saying they do not want me to have the plus-one because Leslie blew up about it and they are afraid of a blowup at the wedding. Leslie indicated she intends to bring someone on her card. I do not know if she will actually bring someone. Some of OOP's Comments: Top Commenter: Pull an Uno Reverse. Tell them Leslie isn't allowed on your property and watch their heads explode. OOP: The petty part of me did absolutely consider saying, "Well, Leslie cannot come to my house or on my land so it shouldn't be a problem." Commenter: Out of curiosity, are either you and/or Leslie in the wedding party? OOP: Leslie is in the wedding party. Dave is the youngest of 5 boys, so all his groomsmen are his brothers. Commenter (downvoted): This one is really tough. I'm going with ESH, although it was more or less a toss up with that and NAH. Listen, I get it. It's your house, and you're doing them a favor. But is bringing a date when you've been dating again for 2 months really a hill you want your friendship to die on? She isn't just your ex, she is the bride's family. Can't you go it alone for this one day? Or bring a friend instead of romantic interest so you aren't intentionally causing drama at your friends wedding? If you take the venue out of it, would you expect to bring a date? And if the answer is no, did you tell them when you said you could use the house that there was such a big string attached? Their wedding is in April, telling them to find somewhere else at this point is a huge most likely friendship ending thing. OOP: I do not consider this a big string attached. All of our single friends have a plus-one. Leslie has a plus-one. I am literally the only person, who is not in an established couple, who ithey do not want to have a plus-one. I would expect to be treated like every other guest. I know Leslie is Kim's family, but Dave and I have been family to each other. I have known Dave since I was three years old. We grew up together. This makes it feel like we are not as close as I previously thought. And if I knew they would ever consider treating me like a stranger, which is what this feels like, I absolutely would have never agreed to let them use my land for the wedding. To a downvoted commenter: For the last six months, my life, because of Leslie, has been drama. Every person who will be at the wedding is in some way or form connected to the drama. The woman I am dating is not. I want someone who is disconnected from this drama who I do not feel like I have to walk on eggshells around. My peace also matters. All I am asking is for them to tell Leslie, "just act like an adult for four hours." But, instead, they rather have me be uncomfortable than to have that talk. When I am doing what I can to help them with this wedding. Why security? OOP: Security is to keep people out. This is an open area. [to another commenter] The wedding is outside. I have acres of land and it is largely unfenced (including this section). Any stranger could easily walk up on the event. Commenter (downvoted): One thing... You are not entitled to Leslie's financial information as a boyfriend, even a long term boyfriend. She was not 'hiding it from you', it was none of your business. It became your business when merging finances became a likelihood. OOP: I am entitled to not being told lies. In conversations about finances, she misrepresented her financial status. She is the one who initiated our conversations about money about six months into the relationship and then hid information for years about her financial situation. She demanded to know about my income, debt, and savings. I provided it because I thought we were planning a future together. I asked for the same information and she described her credit card debt as "very little." Sorry, but $50K of CC debt is not "very little." If her view was, "you do not have a right to know," then ok. But, that was not her view at all. So, yeah, she hid it from me. Commenter: How much debt was she in aside from the 50k OOP: About $30K in student loans and owes about $20K on a car. We could pay off the credit card debt in probably about 3 years time. My issue is her lying about it. I lost trust in her. Commenter: 75 guests, is 74 plus so not small. Why they are thinking of having someone at the wedding who they even say is going to go nuts to the home owner is belong me! I'm sorry to say this but I don't think Dave's ever been your friend I think he's always been a friend to the family's money, you do say as a child he use to hang out at your Grandparents' house. OOP: This whole thing is making me reassess our relationship. There are people who left our friend group over the years citing Dave's selfishness as part of the reason. To a downvoted "be the bigger person" comment [I liked OOP's response] As my therapist says, "being the bigger person does not mean allowing yourself to be stepped on. It means loving people when they do not deserve it. And love rarely looks like capitulation." Update Post: February 17, 2025 (1 week later) So, I met with Dave this morning. We talked for almost two hours about everything. I laid it out that I thought he was, at best, a shitty friend. I went through our long history of various things over the years that has me questioning our friendship. That was the bulk of our conversation. We then turned to the breakup with Leslie and the shitshow of the last six months. Throughout the last six months, despite Leslie's craziness, I have bent over backwards to try and accommodate her feelings. She has shown up to my house in the middle of the night. I did not go for a restraining order. When I go out, I do not go to places I know that her and her family like to go. She has implied to her family and mutual friends, at various times, that I cheated and/or that I took advantage of her financially. Neither of which is true at all. I have held my tongue to not embarass her about these things in front of her friends and family. Dave knowns all that and yet is demanding, once again, that I put Leslie's feelings before my own. I said, "You and everyone need to stop coddling her like she is a fucking child." Dave concedes that Leslie has been crazy and ridiculous since the breakup. But, he says, "she feels she did not get closure after the relationship. She wants to have an evening where she can talk to you to get that closure." He also told me that Leslie has been very vigilant about paying off her debt and paid off almost $10,000 of the credit card debt. She wants to talk to me about her progress. to see if that might cause me to change my mind. It will not. I asked him, "So, do you expect me to go to the wedding and talk to her? Because I have her blocked everywhere and, date or not, I do not plan to say a single mumbling word to her." He said, "I fully expect she would lose it if y'all do not talk at the wedding." I told him if that is the case, then, for the good of my property, I can't have Leslie come. If she is so unstable that I need to be coercied into a conversation with her, she is too unsafe to be a guest, in any capacity in my home. So, I have told him, based on what he has told me, Leslie cannot come to my house or on my land. I am willing to still have the wedding at my place, but I cannot trust Leslie won't do something given what you are telling me. Dave lost it at this point. He said, "Fuck you and your shit! I don't need it!" So, I said, then the wedding is off. He left. So, that is the state of things Some of OOP's Comments: [editor's note- OOP only replied to the more controversial and downvoted comments. I included these couple because they gave more insight into his background and to show how he refuted several of the common downvoted critiques.] To a deleted comment: My peace of mind matters. And I offered a solution that keeps the peace, while also not exposing me to the chaos that is Leslie, Leslie does not come to the wedding. I would have been willing to let them have it at my place then. I would be willing to not come to the wedding myself to make it "fair." Meeting/Speaking with Leslie is not keeping the peace. It disrupts my peace of mind. Commenter (downvoted): You handled this awfully. You don't start a heart to heart about your ex girlfriend by laying out every grievance you've ever had in your relationship with Dave. Where do you expect him to be mentally/emotionally when you even start the conversation about your ex? No wonder he blew up at the end, he felt attacked. OOP: This was not a heart-to-heart about my ex. This was a heart-to-heart with Dave about our relationship (his and mine). We have talked about Leslie. I was done with those discussions months ago. I made that clear when setting it up. Because I understand Leslie's position, I under Kim's position, but I did not understand Dave's position. He knew all the shit and was still acting that way. Commenter (not downvoted when originally put in this post) [...] I think wealth attracts assholes, and I think OP is probably a bit sheltered cognitively that his wealth has always given him power over people's behavior to a certain extent, and I think a large part of the shock for OP here is that the friend is walking away from that dynamic. OOP: I have no idea why you think that I grew up wealthy and sheltered. I did not. You notice I did not mention my parents in the post. That is because my parents were too broke to care for me, as determined by the state. My grandparents had enough to where I could grow up middle class. Meaning, no worries about my basic necessities (clothing, food, & shelter). But, anything beyond those was on me. College was paid for by scholarships and work-study jobs. Grad school was paid for by my employer. I now make relatively good money. And that money stretches quite far because I live in a fairly low-cost rural community and have no kids. If I lived where my job's office is located, I would be living in a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate. And Dave and I's dynamic historically has been me going along with whatever he wants often to my detriment. I think that is why they came to me rather than even attempt to get Leslie to behave. My shock is that I thought he legitimately cared about my feelings and well-being. This experience makes it clear he does not. Editor's note. I can't for the life of me figure out how to better convey that this sub has a 7 day waiting period and this hasn't been posted here before. It's in all caps at the top and now at the bottom. Also- If OOP doesn't reply to positive comments, there isn't a lot I can do. I've been bitched at before for including comments that OOP doesn't address because it makes the post too long. I even included the top comment in this post and ALWAYS make sure to indicate which comments are downvoted, and even made a note for one I included just because I liked the OOP's response. I also try to not include all of the downvoted comments themselves and just include part or summarize the comment so that it's clear I'm including OOP's response. I also included more positive or neutral comments in the first post even though OOP replied to far more negative comments than he did positive. I genuinely can't please everyone here and it gets pretty frustrating to have people bitching at me about including too many things or not enough things when this is reddit AND THERE IS NO COMPENSATION OR VALUE IN THIS FOR ME. If you have a suggestion on formatting, I always listen and take them into consideration. That's how I started including length between posts and why I'm always willing to adjust trigger warnings or mood spoilers. But there is no need to be rude. submitted by /u/LucyAriaRose to r/BestofRedditorUpdates [link] [comments]

I am NOT OOP. OOP is u/Main-Complaint-9432 Originally posted to r/AITAH MIL invited SO’s ex to my son’s gender reveal Thanks to u/queenlegolas + u/Direct-Caterpillar77 for suggesting this BoRU Trigger Warnings: entitlement and possible emotional abuse Original Post: July 30, 2024 I’ve seen similar posts about people being friends with their ex’s parents. I’ve read multiple points of view to try to convince myself to be okay with this, but this lady makes it harder each time. My (F25) and SO (M26) have been together for 7 years now. Both of us, our previous relationships lasted 3 years so I completely understand how one can form bonds with our SO families. I remember at the beginning of my relationship with my current SO it was senior year and my MIL would have his ex, let’s call her Sam, sleep over every other day after they broke up. My SO would invite me to sleep over for peace of mind. It was so weird Sam would sleep in bed with his mom and my SO and I in the room down the hall. My FIL is a rarely home because of his job so he had no idea what was and has need going on. My SO then told his mom that it was making both him and I uncomfortable that Sam was sleeping over. She responded with “this is my house I can have whoever I want over if you don’t like it leave”. So we left, with our minimum wage jobs to a studio for $1,800 rent. My mom did not take us in since she was not onboard with us being together in the first place. At that time I was so frustrated with this lady just wanting to make things so uncomfortable for me and drive me away I didn’t realize how it must’ve made my SO feel that his mom would prefer his ex than him. Things worsened. Every day on his way home his mom would call him asking for some kind of favor, wether it’s buy groceries or clean some kind of mess in her house. At some point my SO got tired of going everyday and expressed to me that he just wanted to go straight home for once. So I offered him to go and get the groceries that way he can go home. When I showed up at her door with the bread and gallons of milk my MIL was livid. She said to me “why are you here? Where is my son? I don’t want you here! Get that shit and go I don’t need that!” I responded to her “as per your son’s request I am dropping this off to you” then left. This infuriated my SO and he refused to go to her house for the following two weeks. She then played the victim card saying that she hasn’t had any food or drink and how house is becoming a mess. My SO told her that she has Sam that can easily for groceries and clean for her. BTW my MIL can drive and clean on her own. Later she would invite both of us to visit. Coincidentally, Sam was there every time… I pulled MIL to the side and expressed to her that it makes me uncomfortable. Sam didn’t even live there she was invited every time we were invited. My MIL then told me that she sees Sam as daughter and will never love me as much so I have to accept it. I was 19 at the time. I continued to offer her help thinking she’d come around to like me or even accept me. She would continue to reject me but my SO would ask the favor to help clean. So sadly I still helped, all while her making snarky comments and complain about everything about me. We slowly went down to visiting twice a month even though we lived only 5 minutes away. When COVID started I started to become close with my SIL. We would talk everyday and at some point I opened up to her about our MIL. To my surprise, she told me how our MIL has made her go through the same thing. She also had to deal with the ex constantly the for everything even holidays. However after 10 of being with my BIL my MIL finally stopped trying to bother with his ex. This was a wake up call for me. I felt like I was walking in her footsteps. My nephews are 9 and 10! I am not going to deal with Sam for that long! Especially with my kids. 2021 I became pregnant with my son. My SO and I were looking at gazebos to rent for the gender reveal. My MIL said “save the money and we can do it at my house, it’ll be great!” Well the title spoiled it she invited Sam… this ruined it for me and SO. We spent the entire time focused on actually family and friends. After, my SIL told me that my MIL was simply looking for a reaction. I felt like I was part of a Circus! A few months later, I was going to Lowe’s to build something for my son and I felt bad for the separation between me and MIL so I offered her if she wanted me to get anything from Lowe’s. To my surprise she said yes. She asked for orchid mulch. When I brought her the mulch I offered to help her plant the orchids in a pot and she said she’d rather wait for Sam. She waited 3months for Sam to plant it. My MIL would also complain to my SO that she barely saw my son. He told her that she can come over to our apartment. She refused to because of her asthma and the AC unit that had in our apartment. We gave her the benefit of the doubt and started to go over. One of the time my SO was outside washing down the backyard and I was inside trying to get my son to sleep. My MIL took advantage of the privacy and told me that I am as far as a cow and my SO will leave me for any woman that will cook and smile at my SO. Thinking she was looking for another reaction I told her that I could care less if he left. A few months later, I became pregnant with my daughter. Again we were looking into gazebos for the gender reveal and realized that they are more expensive than before. She offered to use her place again. I told her no I’d rather not even do a gender reveal. She shamed me so much saying that I don’t love my daughter as much as I do my son. My SO then told her that I was because of her inviting Sam the first time. She told my SO “well that her fault that she’s uncomfortable” my SO told her that she can simply not invite Sam and she responded with the same response as years ago “this is my house I can invite whoever I want”. We ended up doing a virtual gender reveal instead. At this point we only see them at their house Christmas and they come over once in a blue moon. My MIL, a few months ago, told my SO that she has grown to love me. Now my SO wants me to fix things with her. I don’t. I’m absolutely tired of trying with her. I’ve never had a problem with any of my past SO parents, in fact they’ve all loved me. Should I fix things with my monster in law? AITAH has no consensus bot, OOP was NTA Relevant Comments Odd_Welcome7940: Why haven't you gone full NC? For God sake this worthless woman can't be worth the energy at all to either of you. Even your Kidd would be better off with no grandma than that one. OOP: I get my SO’s point of view it’s his mom he can’t do much about it and he loves her. That’s why I don’t care if he goes to see her or not. I had suggested to him NC with the kids but he said that was Is in between me and MIL should not involve the kids. Part of me agrees and the part doesn’t + If it were entirely up to me Ive pushed for NC. But because of my SO and my wanting to have family that gets along with one another. I tried to get her to like or even accept me. I’ve also pictured myself with caring in-laws like in my past relationships. I know this is impossible but I wish I can have my SO but any of my previous ex MILs OOP on if she knows Sam and validated that her situation is real OOP: 100% real. what makes it worse is that Sam and I went to the same school so in the mornings we would run into each other in the kitchen not say a word to each other and same thing at school I would see her in psychology class and would not acknowledge her. All my friends would tell me to leave him but at the end of the day it wasn’t him that was inviting her to sleep over. Plus MIL drove us out of the house anyway. [Deleted Commenter:] And neither of you have ever asked Sam “WTF” is going on? Seriously if she’s a real person you have to have some semblance of an idea why she’s doing this? Is it to get your bf back? seriously you guys should ask her OOP: SO and I honestly thought it was because she wanted my SO back but she would be on the phone with friends and introduce MIL as a friend. Felt ganged up on because my MIL didn’t want me to be with my SO and Sam was heart broken so they probably just wanted to get back at me for being with my SO. Tlns4d: OP how did you even contemplate putting up with this so long. Just because she is your MIL isn’t an excuse. I would not by any means make up with a horrible person like this. Your SO is a moron to ask such a question. You know as soon as your guard is down she will start again. Did the ex never move on and get another partner? If so her SO should have had some sort of feeling towards her hanging at the MIL house all the time. I am also guessing not USA because we don’t keep attached to toxic parents like others. OOP: Sam is bisexual so now her and her SO both go over MIL house, take her out to eat and see places in their free time. In my experience and they way I was raised. I do not contact my ex’s family no matter how much I love them as a respect to their and my new SO. + I live in Florida and MIL and Sam are Cuban. Idk I’m not from Cuba but maybe that’s normal over there   Update: August 6, 2024 UPDATE: Sorry didn’t know how to fully update it on the OG post. So I spoke with SO. Didn’t show him this post because honestly was trying to avoid and argument. Instead just stated that he needs to understand my concerns of where I stand with him and how he should keep his word and give consequences to MIL. I told him that I don’t think it would be healthy for any kind of contact with her because of her track record of consistent 7 years treating me this way. My SO then proceeded to tell me that I need to get over it, stop being stagnant and leave the past in the past. The past??? That was a year ago! My daughter just turned 1 last month! And there would’ve been more if I continued to talk to my MIL. Ugh it’s frustrating! I tried to tell him that what gives me the reason that she isn’t going to just wait until my guard is down and start with this behavior again? He told me that I might not see it be he sees that she has changed. Also I asked him why she said she has grown to love me and he told me because she saw the kind of mother that I am that I do everything for my kids juggling the two of them and work from home at the same time. I’m sorry but i don’t see that as a valid reason to grow to love someone. I feel Ike when you “earn” love it is by actions and display of caring for that person. I definitely don’t believe that act. SO completely believes her. Sadly I think I will actually have to just rip the bandaid off and show him this post. Maybe then he will open his eyes completely. Thank you all for the feedback and making me feel like I’m not crazy! I didn’t expect this many responses. Comments Jealous-Ad-5146: SHOW THE POST - he needs a reality check that he’s a crap husband. Irrasible: Your MIL will never change. You can go no contact, or you can go gray rock. Cool-change-1994: Jesus Christ fuck all that noise! I’d go NC like 5 years ago and if SO gets in the way of peace, you probably need to go NC with him too. Show your kids how they should be treated, how to demand respect, what a family looks like and how they are supposed operate.   DO NOT COMMENT IN LINKED POSTS OR MESSAGE OOPs – BoRU Rule #7 THIS IS A REPOST SUB - I AM NOT OOP submitted by /u/Choice_Evidence1983 to r/BestofRedditorUpdates [link] [comments]

So I want to do a gazebo in my backyard with curtains and such, but im struggling to think up ways to hold up the curtains. I don't have much in the way of fences etc. To attach it to, and i want to avoid paying lots for an actual portable gazebo to put curtains over. Any ideas? submitted by /u/clownyroaches to r/partyplanning [link] [comments]

Will cover the garden bed with concrete and a gazebo in a year or two budget permitting. In the meantime looking for ideas for the beds on the left hand side and far back. Might replant new larger emerald evergreens in the back bed for privacy. Open to maybe shrubs or even flowers for a colour pop submitted by /u/fatfox007 to r/landscapedesign [link] [comments]

Working on a blank slate backyard, its a smaller space 30'x50. Trying to plan out a full concept, something decent so I don't do it random step by random step. Want to extend the patio out with an extra slab like 8-10x12 with mulch beds on either side and a pondless river/waterfall on the side with garden bed. Sitting area under covered slab. The structure is probably gonna be pre-made, and for housing a grill station. Iwas looking at this Gazebo Crude drawing was the easiest way for me to plan. Any advice, ideas, recommendations or help appreciated. submitted by /u/pixelpaintr to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

I got a pretty underwhelming backyard. It’s a square lot and the back is 26x70 and 10 foot wide runs on each side. The house front door is south facing and the backyard gets sun almost all day. I’m looking for creative ideas for pergolas or gazebos. Maybe a gazebo with an entertainment wall? Tv, fireplace, fridge, etc. The neighbor to the left is a 2 story and the neighbor behind is also a two story which is why I was thinking of a gazebo to give privacy from above. The other side of the yard would be grass and maybe some privacy trees. Ideally a pool but I’m not sure if adding that much money into this house would be worth it as it bought it high. Any ideas I’m open to. Would love to get concrete this year. submitted by /u/Bay_Burner to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/n_caramihai to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

I need your help with some suggestions. I am not sure if I should put a gazebo on the concrete slab or put a covered area over my back door. Ideally, I would like to put a covered area over the back door, but I am concerned that my roofline is too low and will make it look awkward. Also, I am concerned that I might hide the view of all of the plants and trees on the retaining wall. Please let me know your ideas! Here are the dimensions: Distance between Back door and retaining wall is 17’ Roofline in backyard is 8.5’ tall Concrete slab is 12x20ft submitted by /u/foodislife88 to r/landscaping [link] [comments]

Mikayla Murray went missing twelve years ago, on the eve of her 18th birthday. She didn’t have any big plans or anything, but her friends described her as having been in a particularly good mood for what was otherwise a perfectly normal Friday. She’d gone to school, soccer practice, work, and then came home for a night of Disney movies with her kid brother, James. He’d been more excited for her birthday than she was. He wanted to stay awake with her until midnight, but of course had fallen asleep right away. He woke in the middle of the night to her headlights shining through his window. He watched as they rushed down the country road they lived off of, not knowing that it was the last he’d ever see of her. The poor kid was only five and would be forever tormented over why she’d leave him like that, or why she’d never come back. It wasn’t until the sun came up on that cold Saturday morning that anyone realized something was wrong. Her parents entered her room to wish her a happy birthday, only to find her bed empty, car gone, and phone off. They started their rounds of calls to all Mikayla’s friends, but nobody had seen or heard from her. Panic really started to set in when Mikayla’s car was found abandoned on the side of a heavily wooded road, pulled off to the side and facing the wrong direction, practically in the middle of nowhere. There were no hiking trails or anything like that, nor were there any signs of struggle, or any evidence of where she might have gone next. Until Mikayla’s friends followed the road on a map. You see, Mikayla had a boyfriend, Tom. He was a year older and had just gone off to college. He’d been trying to get Mikayla to come visit him but her parents just wouldn’t allow it. But if they had, this was the very road she’d have taken to get there. So while Linda Murray filed the missing person’s report, Paul Murray sped on up that road, all the way to the Tom’s university. Tom swore to him (and, later, the investigators) that he hadn’t seen her in weeks. That he’d been in his room studying that night. His roommate confirmed seeing him early that evening, but then left to go to a party where he’d then spent the night. The police looked deeper into Tom and found strands of Mikayla’s hair in his car. This didn’t prove much, but it spooked Tom enough into changing his story a bit and admitting to have seen Mikayla more recently than he’d said. That he’d picked her up late the weekend prior for a midnight drive. This sounded precisely like what had happened the night she’d gone missing, but police found nothing to substantiate it. Tom was eventually cleared as a suspect, but the Murrays never let it go. They were certain he was involved in her disappearance. So certain, that Paul Murray spent several nights sitting outside Tom’s dorm, waiting to catch his daughter going in or out. Tom’s family ended up taking legal action, which was the end of that. It wasn’t long before the case went cold. The days, weeks, and months passed without any further updates. The people in Mikayla’s life were left with this dark cloud of uncertainty, wondering what had happened to her. If she was out there somewhere. And she was. She was about to return home after more than a decade. Because I’m Mikayla Murray, and I ran away that night to start a new life. At least that’s what I told the Murrays. I had no fucking idea what happened to that girl. You think I’m awful. That’s fine. I don’t disagree. I’m not proud of what I did. I was desperate. Homeless, and on the run. Smoking a pack a day just to function. I owed a lot of money to the wrong people, for some other things that I’m not really proud of. I was stuck and needed a plan. And then I saw her face. Mikayla Murray. It was on a bulletin board at some cheap motel I’d passed through. There were half a dozen girls on there. But Mikayla stood out, because she looked so much like me. I could’ve swapped in one of my old high school photos and I doubt anyone would’ve noticed. Not that anyone was paying attention to this board or these girls anymore. Even the lady at the motel, who’d spotted me staring, said, “They ain’t comin’ home, but I don’t got the heart to take’em down.” As I ripped another butt later that night, I decided… one of them would be coming home. Mikayla’s family had money, and that was exactly what I needed. If you’re wondering how I expected to get away with it, I didn’t. I wasn’t planning on being there for more than a night. I did just enough research on Mikayla to get in, find what I could take, and get out. I was going to beg them to give me one day before alerting anybody that I’d returned. To let me rest in my own bed before being swarmed by whatever media Nowhere, Indiana had to offer. Though after miles and miles of corn fields, my guess was that I’d have time to escape that wave. The bus station looked copied and pasted into place, standing out between a small market and gas station. I made sure not to talk to anyone. I didn’t want to risk being mistaken for the town’s longest missing girl, not yet. After one last cigarette, I shoved the pack and the lighter back into my coat pocket, along with my real identity. When I turned down Lincoln Ave, I was no longer me. I was Mikayla Murray. The Murray’s lived a pretty secluded life. Their home sat alone in the middle of endless planes. I could hardly see their neighbors. I was starting to understand why Mikayla might have run away. Although, the house itself was huge, with an inground pool and a cute little gazebo out back, draped in numerous flags and dreamcatchers. I rang the bell and felt my stomach sink. What if my dirty-blonde hair wasn’t light enough, or if Mikayla had had some obvious scar I’d overlooked. But when Linda Murray answered the door, she nearly collapsed. She shrieked and clasped her hands to her mouth, bursting into heaves of tears. “Oh my god!” she kept repeating. I stood there awkwardly as she squeezed me tighter than I would have liked. The dog at her legs was barking madly, and all I could think was how pissed off I’d be if I got caught because the dog didn’t recognize my scent. “What is it, Linda?” Mikayla’s dad called from somewhere inside the house. He eventually appeared behind her and saw me standing there, secretly trying to get myself to cry. He stumbled back. “Is it really you?” he uttered. His eyes went wide and his bushy grey mustache twitched. The dog was still barking, reminding me that I was in fact a stranger in this house. But I nodded and said, “Yes, daddy. It’s me.” Before Paul could respond, another taller figure pushed through. Little James was little no more. He was seventeen now, the same age his sister was when she vanished. He still had that same baby face though, only it was pale white, like he hadn’t seen the sun in a while. He was staring right at me, looking almost scared. I panicked for a moment but figured surely, of all people, I’d be safest around James. He’d hardly ever known his sister. Yet the baby blue eyes behind his jet black hair were piercing into mine, and I couldn’t think of anything to say to him. I could feel the cigarettes in my pocket. I needed one bad. “Come here, baby girl,” Paul breathed. Linda, who was still sobbing and clutching onto me, passed me off like a toy she did not want to share. Paul pulled me into his arms and held even tighter than she had. We rocked back and forth for a moment. “I can’t believe you’re here,” he whispered. Linda watched with her hands still covering her mouth. “James, come give your sister a hug!” she cried. “It’s sissy!” I wanted to puke. James didn’t move, until Paul grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into us. Linda then joined in as well, and we all just stood there wrapped up in momentary silence. I wanted to escape it but we were locked in. “Okay, let’s get inside.” Paul said. “It’s cold!” Paul beckoned us into the foyer where they hung my coat on a hook next to what I assumed was one of Mikayla’s, untouched after all these years. Paul turned, twisted, and latched the few locks on their front door. I wondered if this had always existed or if it was a result of their daughter having slipped out one night, never to be seen again. I followed the family further inside and was blown away by how nice the interior was, so much so that I’d slipped up and let it show. After all, nothing in this house was supposed to be new to me. I caught James’ eye and feared that he’d noticed. He kept his eyes on me as we passed through room after room, deeper and deeper into the house. Linda kept reaching to touch me in any way, a hand on the back or a light shoulder squeeze. She was still sobbing this deep, painful sob, and it was at this moment that I finally began to feel like the asshole I knew I was. We marched through one living room, past the kitchen, down a hall, and then finally stopped in another living room. Each Murray dropped onto a separate couch. Paul gestured for me to sit next to Linda, who grabbed hold of me as she attempted to settle herself down. It was annoying, but of course I wasn’t going to stop her. James was beside us, staring down at his feet, with Paul right across, beaming at me. “Baby, first of all, we’re not mad,” he explained. “We just want to know…what happened?” If my actual dad had showed even an ounce of this concern, I might not have run away myself. I dropped my head and said, “I’m sorry, you guys. I needed to get out of here. I felt stuck. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I didn’t know what to do.” It certainly wasn’t Oscar-worthy, but I wasn’t playing the long-con. I just needed to be passable long enough for me to swipe several of the items we’d passed on our journey to this room. Paul nodded slowly. He looked guilty and it made me feel bad. “Okay… Okay... Where did you go, baby?” “I went north. Tom helped. He introduced me to someone at his school who gave me everything I needed.” This was better, I thought. Added in some details the real Mikayla would know. Although of all the lies to that point, this one felt strangest to tell. The online consensus was that Tom had killed Mikayla. Now I was making him her hero. “Wow. That’s…quite the adventure,” Paul exclaimed. I looked over at Linda because she was squeezing too hard. Her face lit up when our eyes met, and she just nodded. “What made you come back?” Paul continued. I hesitated on this one. So I told the truth. “I found myself in a lot of trouble. Didn’t know where to turn next. I think the only reason I didn’t come home sooner was because I felt embarrassed. And then years went by.” “What kind of trouble?” Linda gasped. She’d finally let go of me. “No, Linda,” Paul began. “It’s okay. She’s not a little girl anymore,” he laughed. “That’s her business. Listen baby girl, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want. All that matters now is you’re home, and you’re safe.” He was holding onto both of my hands. This made me tear up for real. In just a short period of time, I’d flipped my thinking. Maybe Mikayla was just another stupid teenager rebelling against her parents who were only trying to keep her safe. Maybe she snuck out to celebrate her 18th birthday with her college boyfriend at some frat party. Maybe some random frat guy decided he wanted her. Maybe he slipped something into her drink. Or maybe she got too experimental. Maybe someone offered her something she’d never tried before, and she took it. To be cool. To show off in front of her college boyfriend’s college friends. I spent my whole life wishing I’d had hers. “You know what? I have an idea,” Paul said dramatically with a raised finger. “Linda, why don’t you go out… and get stuff for pork sandwiches? And I’ll cook up some tater tots. Yeah?” He was looking at me with raised eyebrows like I was supposed to know what the fuck he was talking about. So I pretended to. This must have been some sort of Murray tradition or Mikayla’s favorite meal or something. “That sounds great,” I said. I tried not to look at James but the avoidance only made my eyes want to do so even more. And they did. James was still staring blankly at the floor ahead of him. Linda suddenly hopped up. “Mikayla, sweetie, do you wanna come with me?” I hated how often they were saying her name, and how they spoke to me like I was five. Before I got a chance to respond, Paul chimed in. “Hun, let her breathe. Run to the market, I’ll get things started, and you,” he said to me, “go rest up. It’s gonna be crazy here by tomorrow. I just wanna have one night as a family first, yeah?” I could not have agreed more. Everything was going exactly as I had planned. There was a really shiny, diamond-studded vase calling my name, right next to an autographed jersey of some football player I’d never heard of. I was gonna walk out with one while wearing the other. “You remember where your room is right?” James said to me after Linda and Paul walked off. I obviously had no idea where anything was, so I joked back. “Oh I thought this was it.” He gave a half-hearted huff and beckoned me to follow him upstairs. “Do you wanna hangout? Watch a movie or something?” “Sure. Try to stay awake this time.” He either didn’t like that one, or didn’t get it. I followed behind as he sauntered to his room. There were several doors in that upper hallway and I worried I was going to have to guess later which one was Mikayla’s. James’ room was surprisingly clean. The baggy jeans and messy hair gave me a totally different vibe. His bed was made, his walls were bare, and the desk in the corner looked like it was hardly ever used, even though it probably was every day. The one window in the room had a perfect view of the backyard and the setting sun beyond the fields. I heard a lock click. “Why did you come here?” James muttered. He slowly turned to face me. My heart stopped. “What do you mean?” “Why are you here?” he repeated in a forceful whisper. He was now eyeing me madly. “Look. I’m really sorry I left you. I feel terrible about it. I always have.” He shook his head and started to tear up, like he couldn’t bare to hear it. He then rushed towards me, and for a moment I thought he was going to attack me. But he brushed past and stopped at the window. “Remember when I climbed the gazebo? And fell?” Nope. Had no idea what he was talking about. “Of course I remember,” I pleaded. He laughed to himself and then marched right on up to me, grabbing me by the shoulders. “That’s weird, because Dad built it after she left, you fucking idiot.” He tossed me backward and spun off towards his closet. He started throwing clothes in a duffle bag. “We need to go,” he said. “Now.” My whole body was tingling. I knew I was caught, but I still wasn’t sure what to do. “Do you understand what’s happening here?” he continued. “He knows. He knew the whole time.” I finally gave it up. “What gave it away?” He stopped to look back. “Because we know where she is!” I was confused. This wasn’t in any of the theories I’d read online. “Where is she?” James shook his head in frustration. He grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to the window. “She’s right fucking there,” he spat with a finger pointed outward. I looked out into the yard past the covered pool where the gazebo sat lifeless and weather worn, with noticeable chips in its white paint. The fact that James couldn’t bare to look at it told me what he was thinking. I frowned. “What makes you think that?” He rushed back for the bag and threw more things inside. “He built it the week she left,” he said with emphasis on every other word. “And they never use it during the day. Never.” I wasn’t convinced. James was so young when it happened, and clearly torn up over it, as was reported in everything I’d read about the case. When he noticed my skepticism, he huffed an annoyed sigh and turned to a dresser drawer, rummaging through before pulling out what he was looking for and jamming it into my gut. I reached down for it. It was a dirty, purple bracelet, all stretchy and rubber. It had her name on it. I played with it in my hand before slipping it onto my wrist. “Remi dug that up a couple years ago. That’s our dog by the way,” he added sarcastically. “Dropped it right at my feet. And I remember it! I remember her wearing it that night!” He sounded crazy. He tried to keep his voice down, which only made him seem crazier. “You saw her drive off,” I said to him. “I saw her car drive off.” My mind was racing. “Why haven’t you called the cops by now? Or run away?” “Because I can’t!” he urged a bit louder than he meant to. “He’ll kill us! All of us.” He settled down and continued. “Listen to me, we’re dead if we go downstairs. We need to leave. Right now.” He was panting. I didn’t move, didn’t speak. He lowered his head in defeat and threw the bag over his shoulder, making his way for the window and starting to crawl out of it. It was just starting to get dark out there. “Please come,” he tried one last time, half in and half out. I was frozen. I listened for any sign of danger outside the room but it was silent. I thought, this was crazy, right? And then I thought about how much I wanted a cigarette. That was how I made my decision. I took James’ hand and he helped me climb out. Together we scurried on the roof of the back porch and then dropped down onto the rather large portico above the back door. I’d almost fallen down the side but James held me up. “Okay, we’re gonna run,” he explained as we crouched close together. He was nervous and out of breath. “The sheriff’s downtown. We’ll use the corn for cover. Stay close.” I nodded. Part of me was starting to actually believe him. He jumped first, and I followed. We took off. James was much faster than me. I looked back quick and saw Paul through the large French windows in the kitchen. I didn’t look long enough to see his reaction, but I could tell he was watching us. I kept running. The dying grass looked like it would never end. There was a road in the distance, the same road I’d trudged along to get there. But it felt like it was never getting any closer. A gun shot rang loud. Paul had fired a rifle into the air. He was shouting out at us. I’d just reached the gazebo. James was nearly fifty yards ahead of me. I stopped to catch my breath, holding myself up on one of the gazebo railings. I was regretting all the cigarette smoking. And then I did the most impulsive thing I think I’ve ever done. I took my lighter out, and lit that fucking thing on fire. The flags, the dream catchers, whatever I could. It took a couple tries, but once it caught, that was it. I had no idea if Mikayla was really under there or if James was just crazy with grief. But either way, I was out of there and I was never coming back. So I lit it up. I watched the flames dance along the darkening sky. Paul had started running towards it, and at that moment, Linda had pulled into the driveway. I could hear her shrill voice shouting to her husband. I was off and running again. But much to my surprise, James had stopped. He was coming back in my direction. “What did you do!” he shouted before passing me. I was confused. I watched him race toward the fire, knowing that it was long past fixing. “No!” James kept shouting. He was hysterical. It was like he was watching his actual sister burn. He dropped to his knees and broke down. I wanted to go comfort him but Paul was closing in. I had to get out of there. I made one last dash without ever looking back. By the time I’d reached the road, the sharp pain in my side had crippled me. I was barely able to move. I ducked into the corn fields and followed along Lincoln Ave that way, in case the Murrays got into their car to chase after me. Every time I heard a car pass, I dropped to the ground and waited. I was terrified. It must’ve been another hour before I made it back to the station. I was prepared to get onto the next bus no matter where it was going, it didn’t matter. But busses were done for the night. There wouldn’t be another until the following day. I cursed out loud. A man pumping gas in his truck next door had heard me and asked if I was okay. I told him I was fine, when he offered me a ride. He asked if I was going south, to which I said yes. Truthfully, I wanted to go northwest, but I just needed to get the fuck out of there. So yes, I hopped into a stranger’s truck. He was an old man, I never felt in danger or anything close to it. He seemed nice. And after the day I had, I wasn’t in a position to be picky. We drove in silence for a while. It was now pitch black out. The headlights pushed through the surrounding fields of black. It was eerie. The old man tried to spark up conversation, but I wasn’t feeling it. He’d asked if I wanted the radio on or off, if I was hungry, if I was cold, hot. Each time, I told him I was fine. “I know it ain’t my business, young lady, but are you sure you’re okay?” he eventually asked me. It was clear that I was not. I nodded and assured him once more that I was fine. My mind was still back on Lincoln Ave, wondering what had been happening that very moment at the Murray household. Or if Mikayla really was buried under the now burnt rubble. Or if her brother had just lost his mind. “Will you tell me your name at least?” the old man had said, breaking my daydream. I paused. I looked down at my fidgeting hands and noticed the purple bracelet tight along my wrist, the pink lettering of Mikayla’s name flashing with every passing street light. I’d forgotten that I was still wearing it. Relax. I didn’t do what you think I did. That would’ve been a mistake. But when the old man dropped me off at a rest stop early the next morning, I saw that I’d already made a much bigger one: https://www.reddit.com/user/Jcote12/comments/k23g6j/update_on_mikayla_murray/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf submitted by /u/Jcote12 to r/nosleep [link] [comments]