My Sister Ruined My Birthday Due to Her Obsession with Diet Culture — I Didn’t Let It Slide

The celebration of Madeleine’s birthday is turned upside down by her sister’s diet obsession, which causes an unexpected twist. In an attempt to save her big day, Madeleine devises a daring scheme and gives Fiona a dose of her own medicine. Will Madeleine’s audacious reply prove to be the difference between success and chaos?

“Fiona, can you come over to help with the birthday party?” With my phone glued to my ear and reclining comfortably on my luxurious sofa, I inquired.

“Yes, Madeleine,” Fiona said with a smile. “What do you need me to do?”

“Decorations and food,” I said as a wave of comfort passed through me. “I could really use an extra pair of hands!”

“Not a problem,” she responded. “I’ll take care of it.”

I grinned as a burden left my shoulders. “Many thanks, Fiona! Without you, how would I manage? I’ll give you a little cash for the simple BBQ, drinks, and décor.”

“I got it. Fiona reassured me, “I’ll make sure everything looks perfect.

I hurriedly deposited the funds to her account after hanging up.

Fiona was the one I trusted with the décor because she was meticulous and always managed to make everything seem stunning. I promised to leave the keys under the doormat and texted her the list of necessities.

“Hey, sweetheart, are we all set for the party?” As I was sending my final text to Fiona, my fiancé, Albert, inquired.

“Almost,” I replied, getting to my feet and grinning consolingly at him. “Fiona is in charge of the food and décor. All we have to do is grab some plates and glasses from the grocery store.”

“Didn’t we already have enough?” Perplexed a little, he asked.

“I also had that thought,” I said, shaking my head. But we’re not as tall as we thought. I don’t want to take the chance of running out of food during the celebration.”

Albert responded, “Good call,” as he reached for the automobile keys. “Now let’s head out. It’s better to finish this up early.”

I was anxious and excited at the same time as we drove to the grocery store. These emotions were usually there when throwing a party, but everything was made simpler by Fiona and Albert’s assistance.

I considered how I wanted the backyard to appear cheerful and inviting. Everyone would be content and full thanks to Fiona’s exquisite decorations and the BBQ.

“Are you okay?” As he drove, Albert asked, staring at me.

“Yeah,” I grinned back. “Just thinking about how everything will turn out.”

“Madeline, it’s going to be amazing,” he added, holding my hand. “We’ve got this.”

As soon as we got to the grocery, we hurriedly picked up the plates and glasses we required. We piled them into the car, and I felt proud of ourselves.

Everything was fitting together.

“And we’re back!” Carrying the plates and cups into the backyard with Albert, I let out a call. But as soon as I saw what was in front of me, my smile turned to shock.

Rice cakes, a variety of veggies, and numerous containers of 0% yogurt—that is, yogurt without any fat or sugar—were all spread out on the table.

And there was half a watermelon with candles inserted into it in place of a real cake.

My heart fell. This was not at all what I had in mind.

Albert’s eyes widened in shock as I turned to face him. He asked, looking obviously perplexed, “What’s going on here?”

I was perplexed and answered, “I don’t know,”

Fiona was setting the table when I noticed her, so I hurried over to pull her aside. “Fiona, what happened to the BBQ??” I asked, attempting to control my annoyance.

“Well, it wasn’t a good idea considering your size, so I chose better options!” She stated in a serious manner.

It stunned me.

I was raised in a “bigger” family and have come to accept and appreciate who I am. Fiona, on the other hand, has never been able to maintain a diet despite attempting hundreds of them due to her self-image issues.

My cheeks turned red with rage, realizing that her diet fixation had driven her to do it! But I forced myself to calm down because making a scene would not solve anything. I didn’t want to spoil the evening for everyone as the visitors were beginning to arrive.

“So, what exactly did I say? Yes, I simply felt that healthier selections would be more beneficial for you, Madeliene,” she stated, giving me a favoritism-affected glance.

This is a party, Fiona! People anticipate enjoying themselves and delicious cuisine.” I nearly lost my cool.

“I just thought this would be better,” she said, shrugging her shoulders like everything was alright.

I inhaled deeply and realized that I had to make this right. I approached Albert, who was perplexed by the spread as well.

“Albert, let’s get some regular food. The visitors will arrive at any moment,” I remarked.

“Okay, I’ll order some burgers delivered and give the pizza business a call. This cannot spoil the evening for us.”

“I express my gratitude for his prompt thinking,” I added.

I tried to mix in with the arriving guests, trying not to show my irritation, even while Albert was making the calls. Although everyone was courteous, when they examined the dish, I could sense bewilderment in their eyes.

One of our pals asked, “What’s going on with the food?”

“It was just a small mistake,” I responded, trying not to chuckle. “We’ve got some more food coming soon.”

Albert returned soon after and gave me a comforting nod. “Food will arrive soon. He whispered to me, “Should be here in about thirty minutes.”

“Excellent,” I moaned. “Thank you, Albert.”

His words, “Don’t worry, Madeleine,” were followed by a squeeze on my shoulder. “We’ll turn this around.”

Albert nodded, reassuring me that more food was on its way and making me feel a little more at peace. But Fiona lost her cool just as I was about to order the BBQ.

Her voice boomed over the backyard, “Sorry for being such a terrible sister and trying to help you lose all this fat!” “KEEP STUFFING YOURSELF WITH BBQ, BUT DON’T EXPECT ME TO CHEER YOU UP WHEN YOUR FIANCÉ KICKS YOU OUT!”

It was an unexpected shout that surprised everyone. The guests, unsure of what to say or do, nervously peered around. I could feel the wrath and embarrassment rising on my cheeks!

“Fiona, will you please stop it?!” I murmured, yanking her away once again.

With a frustrated look in her eyes, she gave me a glare. “Madeleine, all I was trying to do was support you. You never pay attention!”

“Look, this is not the place or time for this,” I murmured, trembling a little bit. “We have visitors in our midst. Could we perhaps discuss this later?”

“Everyone, let’s enjoy the evening. The food will be here soon, and we can all have a good time,” Albert announced, facing the guests. I could only feel grateful he was there to handle the situation with me. Fiona crossed her arms, fuming, but she didn’t say anything further. I could see the guests shifting uncomfortably. I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure.

I turned to face the assembly and apologized to everyone. “There was a small misunderstanding, but it has already been resolved. Please settle in for a comfortable time.”

I quickly turned and went inside to write a message for the delivery man after that. I wrote hastily, “Please make sure to hand the order directly to me (Madeleine), not my sister,” and tacked the letter to the front entrance.

I was waiting impatiently for the dinner to arrive, and the minutes seemed to go by. I kept checking the time, hoping it would arrive quickly so we could get over our embarrassing situation. The doorbell rang at last.

The delivery man handed me the bags stuffed with BBQ and other delights when I opened the door to greet him.

I took the food from him and said, “Thank you so much.”

“No problem,” he smiled amiably in response.

As I returned to the backyard with the meal, I inhaled deeply. Whatever it took, I was going to save the evening. However, I also intended to impart to Fiona some lessons on boundary-respecting and the true meaning of genuine assistance.

I said, “Alright, everyone,” setting down the sides and BBQ on the table. “The meal is available! Come on, let’s enjoy the evening!”

I started passing around plates full of sides, salads, and BBQ meat to each person. I took care to maintain my composure while serving, grinning and interacting with everyone.

I couldn’t help but feel a little naughty when I got to Fiona. I made sure it was an impressive tower of the healthiest options available as I piled all the rice cakes and veggies onto a dish for her!

I yelled, “Fiona,” grabbing everyone’s attention. “I’ve got a special plate just for you!”

Surprised by the attention, she looked up. I couldn’t help but chuckle a little when I gave her the plate. “Fiona, here you go. Be sure to continue with the nutritious options. I wouldn’t want you to consume something bad and lose your love.”

Fiona’s face glowed scarlet. She fixed her gaze on the dish, then shot me a confused, angry expression. She stammered, hardly able to meet my gaze, “Thanks.”

“Everyone, enjoy!” I said with joy as I went to assist the following visitor.

I also watched Fiona closely. She hardly touched her meal as she stood off to the side. Her anguish and humiliation were visible on her face. She eventually set the plate down and headed for the door.

“I’m leaving,” she said quietly as she passed by me, avoiding eye contact.

“All right,” I shrugged in response.

With a sense of relief, I watched her go.

People approached me after the BBQ to express how much they enjoyed the food and the décor. Despite a bumpy beginning, it was exactly the kind of evening I had hoped for. What matters most is that my “sweet” sister got a taste of her own medicine.

Here’s another story to enjoy if you liked this one: After returning from her grandmother Irene’s house, Hazel sees that her eight-year-old daughter Lila is hardly touching her favorite dinner, which makes her suspicious and concerned. She is shocked by what she finds and is compelled to approach Irene in order to give her a memorable lesson.

Though it has been romanticized for artistic purposes, this work draws inspiration from actual individuals and events. For reasons of privacy protection and story improvement, names, characters, and details have been changed. Any likeness to real people, alive or dead, or real events is entirely accidental and not the author’s intention.

The publisher and author disclaim all liability for any misinterpretation and make no claims on the veracity of the events or character portrayals. This narrative is given “as is,” with the characters’ opinions being their own and not those of the publisher or author.