My in-laws always ditch the bill at restaurants — pretending to forget their wallets. One night, they invited my mom to a fancy dinner, expecting the same trick. But she out-smarted them.
They ordered expensive dishes and wine, then vanished when it was time to pay, leaving a $1500 bill. My mom stayed calm — had a simple meal — then ordered a decadent dessert and asked for the manager.
Turns out she knew him from her teaching days. He called the in-laws: pay or face charges for dine-and-dash — on speakerphone with her listening. They scrambled back, paid the bill plus a penalty.
Now, whenever they dine together, my mother-in-law announces upfront: “We pay separately tonight.” Their cheap trick finally backfired.