'Entitled grandpa... refuses to pay': Teen gets enlisted into doing unpaid chores by pushy neighbor

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    Entitled Grandpa wants grass but refuses to pay This has happened to me probably 15 years ago. I don't remember all the details but it happened something like that.
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    I was mowing the lawn in our front yard without the basket attached. We always used to do that so the cut grass can decompose and fertilise the lawn.
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    When I got closer to the hedge I saw that one of my neighbours, probably in his 70's at the time, was looking over the hedge and he was giving me a signal to stop the mower.
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    The conversations goes: Me: What's up? EG: Can you put the cuttings into a wheelbarrow and drop it off in my horse barn? (500m away)
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    Me: No sorry, we never mow with the basket and I wouldn't even know where the basket is to be honest. EG: Can you look for it and attach it I really need the cuttings for the horses. C'mon boy you are still young!
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    Me: Okay... (Yes, I was that weak back then as a teenager) I had to ask my dad if he knew where the basket was and we probably spend half an hour looking for it. When I came back EG was still there waiting for me and he stared at me the whole fkn time. So I attached the thing and kept mowing and filling up the wheelbarrow.
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    When it was full and I hit the road, EG asked me if I could also mow the areas that I already mowed because 'the cut grass looks dry like hay'. I agreed and he took off on his bike.
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    He was nowhere to be seen when I dropped the cut grass into his barn and made my way back. (He was likely watching me from inside his house). The whole trip probably took me 15 minutes and walking around with a wheelbarrow wasn't really how I wanted to be seen as a teenager.
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    When I came back my dad asked me where I went and I explained him what had happened. He only asked me how much I get for that and I told him I don't know. Dad was just shaking his head and told me to fill another load and then keep mowing without basket.
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    A few hours later EG came back and knocked on the door. My dad opened and I was listening from upstairs. EG: Where is 'ME', he wanted to drop off a few more loads of grass!
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    Dad: He forgot to mention that he doesn't work for free. EG: I am not paying him for grass! Dad: You should give him at least a tip and tell him beforehand so he does the work with lots of excitement.
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    EG: I asked him and he said yes! No word of money and he didn't even come back and now I see that he cut everything without the basket. I want my grass cuttings, tell him to mow over it again!
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    Dad: The job is done and you can take the full wheelbarrow over there if you want. If it's not enough there's a rake in the shed. But watch out the dog is out and he didn't have her dinner yet!
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    BANG! Slams the door. Of course he didn't took the wheelbarrow and I saw him cycling past our house the next days more often than he used to do.
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    I have to say that my sister was furious when she heard the story, because she and her friend took care of the horses and apparently they are not allowed to eat grass cuttings. (Old horses by the way)
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    EG came back next summer and asked again but I just refused and kept mowing. And it became a habit for me to ask people for money if they wanted me to do a job for them. Btw: R.I.P EG
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    [deleted] The older I get the more I notice how some people become as they get older, especially to young people. I guess they had a lifetime of having to respect their elders and now they think it is their turn to take it out on those younger than themselves. Its a bit like initiation at school where the older ones do horrible things to the younger ones, even
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    though they hated it when it was done to them. And yes your sister is absolutely right, grass clippings can cause colic, which can be deadly, and can cause other problems like choking. And your dad is a fine chap.
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    Consistent-Tree... Oh god no horses, young or old, should be fed grass clippings Sure fire way to get laminitis or colic.
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    nothingtoprove Your dad gave you a valuable life lesson! EG would not have been "paying for grass" (if he had paid at all), he would have been paying you for your time and labor. Your dad offered him the grass for FREE, he just had to provide the time and labor himself as he obviously did not place any value on yours!
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    Flimsy-Field-8321 Entitled Grandpa should not have horses if he can't feed them properly (and no a wheelbarrow full of grass. clippings is not at all appropriate).
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    [deleted] Asking for money from people who want you to do a job is a great habit to have!
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    Flaky_Tumblew... I'm sorry but I think this is one of those ESH stories. It should have been handled better, and honestly if it was me, there would have been alot more manners involved.
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    So grass cuttings don't cost anything, and the geezer probably thought they were going to be disposed of anyway. Just asking if OP could collect as much as the grass as possible (please) and do the old man a kind favour by bringing as much as he can, that should have sufficed.
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    I notice that old people are notoriously ill mannered on these stories, which is far from how I was raised, and I hope I'm able to keep my manners when I do get to that ripe old age.
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    That being said, dad shouldn't have just demanded money for the grass clippings. That in itself is incredibly . As he wasn't part of the previous discussion and trying to squeeze money from anyone after a favour was requested is a move.
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    There's so many ways this could have been avoided with just some kindness and understanding.

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