Phoebe’s day was already a mess when she found her sister, Holly, and her family unexpectedly settled into her home. Holly, her husband Nicholas, and their two kids had returned from their year-long “world tour” early and were crashing in Phoebe’s house without asking. Holly claimed her mother had given them the spare key for “emergencies,” but Phoebe was livid. This was her space, and they had no right to take over without her permission.
Feeling trapped, Phoebe turned to her college friend Alex for help. Alex, always the prankster, showed up in a police officer costume, playing the part perfectly. Phoebe introduced him as “Officer Johnson,” and Alex quickly turned the tables, pretending to investigate a break-in. The sight of Alex in his uniform made Holly and Nicholas panic. They’d assumed they could freeload without consequences, but Alex’s fake authority was too convincing. He threatened to press charges for trespassing, and Holly and Nicholas hurriedly packed up, promising never to trespass again.
After they left, Phoebe couldn’t help but laugh. She thanked Alex for saving her and, as they sat in her now-quiet living room, reflected on the situation. Part of her felt guilty for the confrontation, but she knew she had done the right thing. Her home was her hard-earned sanctuary, and she wouldn’t let her family take it for granted.