It all started with a family dinner, and I never expected it to end like this. When my brother Ben’s nine-year-old son, Jason, noticed our LEGO dioramas, it seemed innocent enough. Jason’s eyes grew wide with excitement.
“Look, Dad! A bank robber is hiding from the cops on the mantel!” he shouted, pointing with awe.
I walked over with Ben to take a look at the scene. “Nice eye, Jason! I haven’t seen that one yet,” I said, trying not to laugh.
Turning to my boys, I asked, “When did this one join the collection?”
Toby, my 16-year-old, smirked. “About two days ago. I thought for sure you’d find it while dusting, but nope!”
I chuckled. LEGO building had always been our family’s thing. Some families bond over sports or movies, but for us, it’s all about creating little worlds with blocks. Toby and his brother, Max, loved showing off their new builds, and Jason was clearly fascinated.
I leaned over and whispered to Jason, “Hey, there’s something cool in the bookcase. Go check it out!”
Jason’s face lit up as he sprinted off. A few minutes later, his voice rang through the house. “It’s Iron Man! And he’s fighting Darth Vader!”
I smiled at the excitement in his voice. “Hey, Toby, Max, why don’t you take Jason to the LEGO room? He’ll love our latest project.”
Toby and Max led Jason away while Ben and I settled into the living room for coffee with his wife, Carol. We chatted about the move that brought them closer, just an hour away now instead of across the country.
“You know,” I said, “I’m so glad you guys are living closer. It’s a lot easier to visit, right?”
Ben grinned. “Yeah, it’s great! And speaking of visits, we’re planning a BBQ for New Year’s. You guys should come over.”
“Deal!” I agreed, looking forward to the gathering.
As the afternoon went on, it became clear that Jason had made it his mission to find every hidden LEGO creation in the house. Toby and Max didn’t mind, though; they were too busy working on their new project—Han Solo proposing on the Millennium Falcon.
Dinner came, and after Ben and his family left, I was cleaning up when Toby’s voice cut through the quiet.
“Mom, we have a situation here,” he said, sharp with disbelief.
“What’s going on?” I asked, wiping my hands on a dish towel.
“Chewie is gone! And the Minecraft Creeper in the Hogwarts Library! Everything’s missing!”
My stomach dropped. I knew what had happened. Jason must’ve taken them.
We searched the house and found empty spaces where our precious LEGO creations had stood just hours earlier. My mind raced.
“I’m sure Uncle Ben will bring them back,” I said, trying to stay calm. “Sometimes kids that age make mistakes.”
I called Ben, trying to sound casual. “Hey, bro. Funny thing, it seems like some of our LEGO builds went home with you guys. When can you bring them back?”
Ben laughed on the other end. “Oh man, I’m sorry about that, Carly. They’re just toys, though! I’ll bring them back next time we meet.”
I felt heat rise in my cheeks. “Make sure you remember next time, Ben. Those toys mean a lot to us. We need them back.”
But “next time” never came. Days turned into weeks, and every time I saw Ben, he “forgot” the LEGO sets. I watched as my boys’ faces grew more disappointed with each empty-handed visit.
By Christmas, I realized Ben had no intention of returning our LEGO. So, I gathered my boys for a little heart-to-heart.
“Look, guys,” I began, “I think it’s time we face facts. Uncle Ben’s not giving back our LEGO.”
Max slumped. “So we just let him steal our stuff?”
“No,” I said, my voice low and confident. “We show him exactly how it feels when someone ‘borrows’ your stuff without asking.”
Toby raised an eyebrow. “Wait, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“We’re going to his New Year’s BBQ this weekend,” I said with a smile. “And I’ve already texted him to remind him to return our stuff the moment we walk through the door. If not, well, I’ve got a little plan to motivate him.”
The boys exchanged excited glances. By the time I finished explaining my plan, they were practically bouncing with anticipation.
At the BBQ, I watched Ben tending to the grill, wearing that goofy “Kiss the Cook” apron he always loved. I marched up to him, hands on my hips.
“Hey, bro!” I said loudly. “You promised to have our LEGO sets ready for us when we arrived. Where are they? I’d like to take them home right now, so I don’t have to worry about it later.”
Ben waved his hand dismissively while flipping burgers. “Oh, totally slipped my mind again. Next time, sis, promise!”
I caught Toby’s eye across the patio and gave him a subtle nod. Operation Payback was officially underway.
Max strolled inside under the pretense of needing the bathroom. A few minutes later, he returned with bulging pockets. Toby helped Carol bring out more drinks, sneaking Ben’s favorite bottle koozies in the process. Meanwhile, I kept Ben distracted with questions about his grill. My boys were quietly taking small items from around the house.
The real masterpiece, though, came when Max swiped Ben’s prized Bluetooth speakers off the kitchen counter. I couldn’t help but snicker as I saw Max slip them into his hoodie pocket with the stealth of a seasoned thief.
Three hours later, I gave the signal to wrap things up. We made our goodbyes and headed to the car, looking as innocent as could be. That’s when I heard a faint “woof” from the back of the SUV.
I spun around, eyes wide. Ben’s golden retriever, Cooper, was climbing out of the trunk, happily joining the boys in the backseat.
“Boys!” I whispered fiercely. “We are not dog-nappers! Take him back right now!”
“But Mom,” Max protested, hugging Cooper, “he looked so lonely! And he’s technically a small item.”
“Now,” I hissed. “Take him back!”
Toby snuck Cooper back inside, and I started the car, knowing Ben would soon discover the “missing” items.
Sure enough, my phone rang before we’d even reached home. I answered once we finally parked.
“CARLY!” Ben shouted, his voice high-pitched with panic. “Where are my remotes? My speakers? Everything’s gone! What did you do?!”
I feigned surprise, inspecting my nails. “Hmm, some things seem to have gone missing. How strange. That must be so frustrating.”
Ben was beside himself. “This isn’t funny! I need my stuff back right now!”
I paused for effect. “You know what? I’ll check with the boys. They might know something about some borrowed items. But I can’t promise when we’ll return them. You know how it is… sometimes things just slip your mind.”
The silence on the other end was delicious.
“You wouldn’t,” he said, his voice dripping with disbelief.
“Try me, big brother. But hey, bring over our LEGO sets tonight, and maybe we can work something out.”
Ben arrived 45 minutes later, red-faced and holding not just our missing LEGO sets but three extra sets he “thought might be ours too.” I smiled as I graciously handed over his stuff.
Ben sighed dramatically. “I really think you took this too far. Jason’s just a kid and—”
I cut him off. “Jason should know better than to take things that don’t belong to him, but you’re right. He’s just a kid. The real issue is his adult parent who promised to return the stuff and didn’t.”
Ben’s face turned even redder. “Fine! I didn’t take it seriously. I’m sorry, okay?”
I patted his shoulder, grinning. “Lesson learned. But just so we’re clear, this is how we handle any future ‘borrowing’ in this family. Got it?”
He laughed nervously and grabbed his recovered speakers. As he drove away, Toby turned to me with admiration.
“Mom, you’re seriously scary sometimes.”
I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Sometimes, the best family bonds are forged through a little creative justice.
What do you think of the story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
