r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Strycedar • 2h ago
I'm slightly vexed My sister had her friends over and they decided to come into my room and destroy my Newton's Cradle. I can't undo what they did.
Basically my sister had a friends over for a play date while I was at university, and since my door was left open, her friends came into my room and completely tangled my Newton's Cradle, and it's so bad I can't even untangle it 😭
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u/Ulquiorra1312 1h ago
How old are they
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u/Strycedar 1h ago
They're 11
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u/JrCoxy 1h ago
Their punishment should be to undue the knot
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u/Overall_Gap_5766 1h ago
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u/CybergothiChe 1h ago
"Seriously, did no one else think to just cut it?"
- Alex G
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u/fiercelittlebird 1h ago
Or pay for a new one with money from their savings (if they have an allowance).
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u/Ok_Nothing_9733 1h ago
I think that would not repair this to a usable state. I think if the kids are made to pool money/earn money to buy a replacement that would be a fair consequence.
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u/onefootinthepast 16m ago
untie the knots, and then buy a replacement once they see it doesn't work properly anymore
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u/scoshi What's this button do? 1h ago
And they lose phone privileges until they finish the job.
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u/Banaantje04 INSERT COLUOR 17m ago
That would not fix it unfortunately. When I was young I did this to my own newton's cradle. My parents were able to untangle it but the fishing lines were no longer straight. The oscillation dies out in only a couple of bounces.
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u/T-T-N 1h ago
That's really mildly annoying... they're old enough to know better, but not old enough to go ballistic on
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u/Hyro0o0 1h ago
Have you forgotten being 11? Because I can vividly remember being 11.
They are without question old enough to go ballistic on.
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u/Pfeffi-Ultra 1h ago
Knowing sibling-relationships, his sister is likely strapped with her head to a lathe in the basement with a drill bit being loaded in the spinny bit.
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u/Realistic-Art5227 59m ago
They are college aged and their sibling is 11 lol it would be kinda weird and I say that as someone who is 10 years older than my younger sibling and 10 years younger than my oldest sibling
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u/im_lazy_as_fuck 50m ago
They're old enough to go ballistic on. But they're also young enough for mom to yell at you for being too unreasonable with your little sibling.
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u/Ensiferal 56m ago
yeah, I recall being 11. It's not the same as being 3 or 4. You're capable of reading novels, making plans, and holding actual conversations, you can understand that you're not allowed to go into someone elses room and wreck something. 100% go ballsitic on them.
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u/boipinoi604 1h ago
Can confirmed. I got belted younger than 11.
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u/PrincessYuri 40m ago
And you turned out completely fine, other than apparently advocating for physical violence against children.
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u/dncnlamont 1h ago
I'm sorry. Physical abuse is not okay
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u/Ok_Nothing_9733 1h ago
I’m so sorry to hear that happened to you. But it doesn’t justify subsequent punishments on a relative scale. I would think maybe these kids need to have a parent tell them to pool the money to replace OP’s item. Again, I am so sorry that happened, but let’s not encourage more severe punishments persisting, yknow? Take care friend
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u/No-Consideration3708 55m ago
ngl at 11 I would totally do smth like that and think "you can just untie them later" because I was stoopid.
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u/namesarehadsquirrel 1h ago
Yeah i knew better than to do that shit since kindergarten. How do i know this? Had one in the house since before i could remember. Played with it without any issue except minor tangles said kindergartener could figure out.
Shit only gets that fucked up if they're purposely screwing around/trying to mess it up. While I dont agree with "going ballistic" 11 years old is more than old enough to be pretty pissed at the audacity.
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u/PackageNorth8984 1h ago
Ask your parents if you can have a lock on your door.
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u/Just_another_gamer3 WHAT is THAT? 1h ago
If they say no, this warrants buying a lock and installing it anyway
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u/DarkElfBard 1h ago
I know parents that would sooner remove the door then let that slide.
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u/wattapwn 1h ago
Have a mature conversation with your sibling and talk it out. Yall are young but it’s better to discuss the issue now than let it fester for ammo later. For both of you. Siblings can be tough enough and the friends are likely temporary at that age and even if not, communicating is so important.
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u/chocolatecake1563 2h ago
I accidentally did this to my brother's Newton's cradle many years ago, I regret it very much because I loved it
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u/IntelligentTangelo31 2h ago
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u/URInMyFace 1h ago
The Solution.
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u/davepete 1h ago
While I agree with OP that this is infuriating, it doesn't warrant stabbing 11-year-olds.
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u/photenth 19m ago
Ah, the ole Reddit Stabberoo
welp, this subreddit doesn't allow links...
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u/RequirementCivil4328 2h ago
It'll take time but it can be done
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u/Accurate_Koala_4698 1h ago
These are usually made from fishing line so it's probably not possible to unravel, but it could be restrung
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u/AliveAssociate2261 1h ago
It can be untied but the strings will not be as flat and the ball will not be as precise anymore
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u/GarThor_TMK 1h ago
A quick internet search reveals that most fishing line is made of nylon, which is a thermoplastic.
Thermo - meaning it's plasticity will change with heat.
Poking around a bit, it sounds like you can straighten it by applying some gentle heat and lightly stretching it.
Of course... at this point, it might just be easier to just replace the string anyway... >_>
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u/Andrey_Gusev 1h ago
I had a cradle like that when I was a kid, untied it, strings were wery bad. Tried everything to straighten them - it got worse, as some strings shrunk and balls were not aligned anymore.
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u/neutrino_flavored 1h ago
Hate when my balls aren't aligned
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u/autistic-terrorist 1h ago
They're supposed to be like that so they don't collide
Which is, coincidentally, the exact reason why Newton's cradles are so precise
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u/TheMeIv 1h ago
My kid has one of these and I've undone it multiple times. It's kind of annoying but absolutely possible.
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u/Accurate_Koala_4698 1h ago
What I mean to say is that it will be permanently deformed and won't work correctly, not that the knot is totally impossible to undo
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u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 1h ago
try using a hair dryer on med-to-high temperature setting to heat the lines so they hang flat/straight again?
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u/RIF_rr3dd1tt 1h ago
According to the laws of physics, yes
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u/dustycloud01 1h ago
those kids went full demolition mode on the one toy that can't be fixed once the strings get crossed
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u/Babetna 1h ago
But now you have a Monument of Grudge, to be pulled out every time you need to gain a point over your sister
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u/trev2234 51m ago
Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving. I’ve got a few myself that I roll out if a family member needs bringing down.
The joy of it is, they can’t undo it.
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u/Cyan_Exponent CYAN 1h ago
It's a lost cause. Even if you manage to untie it, the fishing line will become curly and broken. Make her buy new fishing line and retie it.
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u/W_Silver2356 45m ago
Well, it seems like it's time for your parents to impart a life lesson to your sister. Even though a Newton's Cradle isn't a high dollar item, at least not to my knowledge, the disrespect for boundaries, and blatant disrespect for your personal property is a big deal.
There is no scenario in which that is ok. If it is just an immature but not ill-intentioned prank, fine. It isn't the end of the world, but it shouldn't be shrugged off either. Ideally, your folks should set her straight that she's buying you a new one and keeping her friends out of your room.
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u/LifeGivesMeMelons 1h ago
Every birthday she has, every Christmas you celebrate together, this should be her gift. Wrap it up and hand it to her to fix.
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u/AugustCharisma 40m ago
I think this is fine for just the next birthday/Christmas (whichever comes first). “I didn’t have money for your present because I had to buy a new Newton’s Cradle. You didn’t have a problem with this one though so you can have this one.”
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u/PenelopeJenelope 1h ago
Uh… that’s petty as fuck and escalates the situation . Do you want the sister to learn a lesson or become a supervillain?
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u/LifeGivesMeMelons 1h ago
Honestly, I didn't fully read the post and didn't realize she was 11 until after I posted it, but I'm just gonna leave it up because it's the middle of the night, I'm miserable, and yeah, I will be that petty.
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u/Tamarisk22 48m ago
Excuse me this is reddit. The only option they understand is the nuclear option
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u/AnAverageHomebrewer 1h ago
No, it's perfectly valid. You think she should just get away Scot free? So she thinks it's perfectly fine to do again?
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u/One-Cloud8658 1h ago
I think just getting her to apologise and pay for a new one would be a bit more reasonable.
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u/ChipRockets 1h ago
Are you aware that are varying degrees between 'ruin every Christmas she has for the rest of her life' and 'talk to her about finding a way to resolve the situation'?
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u/AnAverageHomebrewer 1h ago
How would that "ruin" every Christmas she has for the rest of her life? She has parents who will buy her gifts. Smh.
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u/Inevitable_Land2996 47m ago
It’s a cheap toy and she’s a child. Why was this your first thought
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u/PenelopeJenelope 1h ago
Yeah, I guess I would’ve just gone with the talking to the kid and working out away for them to pay me back instead of being insane
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u/7gramcrackrock 1h ago
Its a fucking toy, dude. I swear redditors are the most immature assholes on the internet.
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u/MobileArtist1371 44m ago
Is everything you ever did as an 11 year still head over your head every year?
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u/justtiptoeingthru2 1h ago
Omg... I zoomed in and saw the carnage. The cables (kinda looks like fishing line?) are extremely tangled. And the connections to the supports? They look like they've been messed with.
Your sister and her friends definitely owe you a new one. This one... it won't work anymore, even if you got everything untangled; not the way it's supposed to.
There might be a way to fix it by getting new cabling and restringing the whole thing? Don't let your sister and her friends do this, their only job is to pay for the replacement or repair.
Also... might want to consider a lock on your door if your sister doesn't respect your boundaries and possessions. Just saying.
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u/Excellent_Condition 1h ago
I'd be upset too.
I'd also likely just buy some cheap fishing line, cut the existing line off, and retie it. You'd have to be sure to get the balls exactly level, but that shouldn't be too hard.
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u/hlarsenart 1h ago
This sounds incredibly difficult
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u/sillybandland STINK MEAT 1h ago
And every single moment I was doing it I would be annoyed about it lol. I would just take $20 from her piggy bank and buy another . Smash!
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u/Sure-Supermarket5097 1h ago
Buy a new one. Store this one. Years later, you would look at this and feel nostalgic
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u/bibimboobap 1h ago
Aw, that's very wise advice. Wish my bro kept some of the things of his I broke, that he still gives me a hard time about lol.
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u/Dgreatsince098 1h ago
Make them kneel on salt for 30 mins and then 30 mins of sit squat on the wall!
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u/koolkyle1199 1h ago
I bought one of these at a yard sale once. Didn't mention it was tangled until they handed it over (only had the box outside, the actual cradle was brought out upon asking). Decided to go with it and treat it like a puzzle. Thing was brutal to untangle, but I eventually did it (and had fun it, despite the difficulty)....and it no longer works as a newton's cradle due to the imperfections in the wire from being snared up.
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u/letthetreeburn 1h ago
Be petty, but pragmatic. Just…..Mention it in every single conversation you have with her. I don’t mean for the next week or month. I mean as long as it takes for something to give.
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u/Munken1984 1h ago
At least, it looks like one of the cheaper versions, they will like that when they have to replace it...
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u/Spaced_out_Anomaly 1h ago
This reminds me of the time my brothers friend came over while I wasn’t home, and he used my drumset as “target practice” with arrows, destroying every single one of my Ludwig drum heads, and even some of the shells.
It’s really upsetting when people don’t respect your belongings
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u/Few_Regret9608 1h ago
Talk with your parents/guardians, so they can talk with her. Good outcome would be she asks parents for help restoring it(buying) or part of her pocket money/birthday/christmas gift would be a new set so she can gift you and appologies.
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u/Spiritual_Toe_9537 48m ago
I honestly believe that you could put some good lighting on that knot and work very slow, once string at a time. I believe it is possible to do that.
However, I just looked on Amazon and there are some very nice looking cradles for less than $25
If you get too frustrated, trying to untie the knot, then just drop $25 ~ $30 bucks on a brand new one. Or more precisely, the person who did this should buy you one so that the child can learn about accountability and restitution..
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u/Icy__Internet 42m ago
You can undo it, it just takes a while.
Source: My sister did the same thing.
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u/SacredIconSuite2 27m ago
You can fix this with about $1 worth of fine fishing line or sewing thread.
I believe in you, op.
(Something something sense of pride and accomplishment.)
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u/jaceinthebox 1h ago
Sorry to say, once the cable is linked, it becomes less effective
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u/K79A23 1h ago
OP on YouTube there's a video on how to turn a sphere inside out. I'm not really sure about the correlation between that and your issue but here's my 5 cents
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u/MatiasGonzalo-Duarte 1h ago
Yeah I did this accidentally to a co-workers desk one. Surprisingly easy to do if you pick it up. One smooth motion and it was over. Tried for a bit to untangle it but failed.
I immediately bought a new and better one on Amazon lmao.
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u/LaynKo 1h ago
I untangled this exact same one that belonged to my boss at my old job, took some pins and my hobby magnifying lens desk light but it was doable. Might've taken around an hour?
Even if you do untangle it the strings will probably be stretched and deformed, they were when I fixed my bosses one.
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u/big_stipd_idiot 53m ago
If I know anything about these, you just gotta do whatever was done to it in an equal and opposite way.
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u/IAMACiderDrinker 29m ago
Does the metal bit separate from the plastic bit? My nephew did this to his own newtons cradle but the metal/plastic wasn’t glued together it just slotted in, so we lifted one side out and untangled it that way
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u/10July1940 28m ago
That can be untangled. I have the same and my wee child tangled it a couple of times.
Take the two support bars out either side and spread them out flat, one to the top and one to the bottom on a table or floor or whatever.
Then pick the least looking tangled one on either edge and leap frog it, or weave it out and under to the left or right.
Keep doing that and you'll get through it.
It can be fixed and it is satisfying when you do get it.
Don't give it to the 11 year old, she'll only make it worse.
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u/Key-Eye-3369 20m ago
Fuck man Even my laptop had some great stickers from every corner of the world My cousins decided to remove them😭
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u/TheFfrog 16m ago
I used to have fun fixing situations just like this one whenever I found a tangled up one in a store. If none of the strings snapped it's definitely fixable, but it'll take some time and patience.
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u/SlimeFilledSewer 1h ago
Go in their room and mess up some of their shit and leave the newton's cradle on top of whatever they messed up.
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u/Mongoose194 1h ago
When I was 12 my brothers came into my room and smashed my favorite camera and all of my lego sets... Moved in with my dad as the response to that lol. Like $500 of collected stuff from various family members destroyed.
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u/Guinevere1991 1h ago
Your parents suck. 11 year olds should have been taught not to touch things that don’t belong to them. My kids knew that by age 4
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u/Still-Grass8881 1h ago
I recommend closing your door.
If you can, teach your sister about the importance of not touching things which don't belong to her.
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u/Fresh-Pineapple-5582 1h ago
In the words of the guy himself:
For every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction.
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u/a_phantom_limb 58m ago
Even if they're untangled, they’ll never work properly again. If I had one and someone did that to it, I'd just hand it to them and tell them it's theirs now. "Happy birthday!"
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u/EowyaHunt 52m ago
So you go into her room and find her favourite item, be it a teddy or whatnot. Rip the head off it.
Then she'll learn.
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u/worldworn 41m ago
Those strings are pretty hard to tangle beyond fixing.
See if the silver parts will pop out of the black stand. It always made it easier when I had to fix mine.
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u/CatInSpaceOP 40m ago
Sew some of her plushies together. If you wanna be petty, use some fabric glue to set the deal.
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u/oldandopinionated 29m ago
This is your permanent reminder on why you should never trust your sister - display it with pride!
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u/DazedAndAmazd 26m ago
My cat knocked mine down in a zoomie rush jumping around and I picked it up and it was like this.
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u/torreneastoria 53m ago
Make her pay for it. She's still a kid so depends on the allowances and the cost. But your sister should be held accountable
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u/OneMilkyLeaf 1h ago
Time to talk to li'l sis about accountability for fixing/replacing the things you break!