They sometimes say that revenge is a dish best served cold. This old saying reminds us that getting even isn’t always about immediate action; sometimes it’s more satisfying after some time has passed.
The tricky part about revenge is that feelings can change over time. You might lose your desire to get even or worry it could backfire. It’s often easier to live vicariously through others’ stories of revenge.
Here, we’ve gathered some entertaining tales where people share their best moments of revenge.
1. Force Me To Serve Moldy Strawberries? You’re Going Down
“I used to work at a well-known buffet restaurant. It was a tough job, but I needed the work and a friend had helped me get the job, so I gave it my best shot. From shady managers to unfair hours, it wasn’t easy.
One day, the district manager came in and blamed all the bad reviews and low sales on the wait staff and me, the hostess. I was told I needed to wear makeup and look more presentable. It felt incredibly sexist and demoralizing. However, I had a glimmer of hope as I was finally offered a chance to work in the bakery section, a role I was more interested in.
On my first night in the bakery, my assistant manager, with whom I already had tension, informed me that we had a special event, and the place would be packed with kids. I was nervous but optimistic—until I discovered that all our strawberries were moldy. I started throwing them out, but he caught me and angrily demonstrated how to spray off the mold and serve them anyway. I refused to serve moldy strawberries to children and was sent back to hostess duty.
Not long after, a customer found moldy strawberries and wanted a refund. Standing next to the assistant manager, I revealed that I was just following his orders to wash off the mold. The horrified customer got her refund, and I gathered my things to leave. While exiting, I took photos of the moldy strawberries and reported the restaurant to the health department anonymously.
A week later, while picking up my final paycheck, I ran into the district manager again and told him the whole story, backed up by a waitress who confirmed what happened. The assistant manager eventually got fired after an HR investigation, the restaurant underwent a management overhaul, and it finally closed a couple of months later. I found peace in knowing that my actions led to changes that undoubtedly protected others.”
2. Need Me To Take Out My Earphones? As You Wish, Officer
“This morning I made a complete stop at a four-way intersection but still got pulled over. As the officer approached, I rolled down my window and asked what the problem was. He rudely told me that I hadn’t made a complete stop and then ordered me to take off my ‘earphones.’
I removed my hearing aids, explaining that I’m deaf and needed to communicate through American Sign Language (ASL). The officer, clearly frustrated, motioned for me to put my hearing aids back on. I insisted on ASL communication, pointing to my dashcam recording the interaction. Realizing the situation, he begrudgingly gave me a thumbs-up and let me go, not willing to make a scene on camera. I drove away, smiling all day.”
3. Sacrificing Hot Showers Just To Watch Him Suffer
“Years ago, I was a female firefighter in a small airport station. The captain, a verbally abusive jerk, wouldn’t let up about my bathroom usage. I kept my showers short and even shaved using lotion to save hot water.
One day after he yelled at me for cutting myself shaving, I had enough. Each morning, he’d turn on the heat and disappear to the back of the station. I’d run hot water in the janitor’s sink and my bathroom sink until it was cold. This left him with cold showers, which made him furious.
This continued for nearly two years, during which time they replaced the heating element and the water heater without ever suspecting me. When I finally changed shifts, the hot water issue was solved, but not before I’d enjoyed watching him face cold water every morning. He never figured it out and definitely deserved it for the way he treated us.”
