Uma mulher, não familiarizada com casamentos no país estrangeiro onde reside, recebeu um convite de uma colega mais velha e gentil, solicitando sua presença na ocasião importante de sua filha. Seguindo o código de “vestir-se para impressionar”, ela escolheu um traje tradicional de seu país para a ocasião. Para seu espanto, tanto a noiva quanto sua colega ficaram furiosas com sua escolha.
Empresária confiante com os braços cruzados no escritório | Foto: Getty Images
Em 25 de outubro de 2023, uma autora anônima compartilhou sua história no popular fórum do subreddit “AITA”. A autora do post , uma mulher negra africana de 27 anos, viveu e trabalhou na Alemanha por um certo período em destacamento. Durante sua estadia, ela formou uma amizade próxima com um colega de 60 anos.
Uma senhora idosa se olhando no espelho | Foto: Shutterstock
Esta senhora idosa convidou a mulher para o casamento de sua filha, o que a deixou animada, pois ela nunca tinha ido a um “casamento branco” antes. Para esclarecer as expectativas sobre o traje, ela perguntou sobre o código de vestimenta e o esquema de cores, que não estavam especificados no convite. Ela foi informada de que o código era “vestir-se para impressionar”.
O que aconteceu no dia do casamento?
A mulher aceitou o desafio e no dia do casamento ela usou confiantemente seu traje tradicional, uma linda vestimenta verde que se destacava claramente no ambiente alemão. A princípio, ela assumiu que não haveria problema com sua escolha. No entanto, ao longo do evento, ela recebeu inúmeras perguntas e elogios sobre sua roupa, que ela modestamente minimizou para não ofuscar o dia da noiva.
Quando chegou segunda-feira, a mulher sentiu uma atmosfera incomum no escritório, com sussurros abafados e colegas demonstrando um comportamento mais reservado do que o normal.
Membros da família comemorando uma recepção de casamento | Foto: Getty Images
“Minha parceira parece mais fria do que o normal, mas não dou a mínima porque ela é a mãe da noiva e pode estar preocupada. A noiva é totalmente rude comigo, mas de novo eu a enrolo. Eu a parabenizo e agradeço por me incluir, e recebo uma cara tensa em resposta”, disse a mulher.
Uma mulher vestida para uma ocasião especial | Foto: Getty Images
Durante todo o evento, a mulher permaneceu na periferia da sala e se distanciou da música que não combinava com seu gosto. Ela observou as nuances dos casamentos europeus, tentando entender as diferenças culturais. Depois de cinco horas, às 8 horas em ponto, ela fez sua saída, indo embora antes que o casamento terminasse.
Como todos reagiram quando a mulher voltou ao escritório na segunda-feira?
Quando chegou segunda-feira, a mulher sentiu uma atmosfera incomum no escritório, com sussurros em tom abafado e colegas mais reservados do que o normal. Uma amiga do escritório a chamou de lado e esclareceu a situação: a mãe da noiva estava furiosa.
Uma noiva com sua mãe | Foto: Getty Images
Segundo ela, o traje da mulher no casamento foi considerado muito extravagante e inapropriado, e desviou indevidamente a atenção da noiva. Aparentemente, a mãe havia falado sobre isso, espalhando a versão de que o traje da mulher não era apenas ostentoso, mas também desrespeitoso, causando um rebuliço entre os convidados.
Sentindo a necessidade de abordar o assunto, a mulher abordou a mãe da noiva e pediu que ela tivesse uma conversa. No entanto, a mãe da noiva recusou, alegando que não tinha nada a dizer a ela. Perplexa, a mulher perguntou por que ela havia compartilhado suas queixas com os outros, mas não as comunicou diretamente a ela. Em resposta, a mãe da noiva chamou a mulher de insolente.
Uma mulher em perigo | Foto: Shutterstock
Em sua defesa, a mulher esclareceu a qualquer um que a repreendesse que essa era sua primeira experiência com um casamento em um contexto cultural predominantemente branco. Ela enfatizou que havia buscado orientação específica sobre o que vestir e havia seguido as instruções que lhe foram dadas.
Um casal recém-casado celebrando sua união com amigos | Foto: Getty Images
A mulher explicou que em sua terra natal, os casamentos eram celebrações vibrantes onde os participantes usavam seus melhores trajes. O conceito de não ofuscar a noiva era estranho para ela. Quando alguém fazia um comentário racista, insinuando que pessoas daquela origem tinham melhores maneiras, a mulher respondia desafiadoramente, recusando-se a recuar. Como resultado, começaram a circular rumores de que ela não tinha remorso por suas ações, levando a perguntas sobre seu comportamento e se ela havia cometido um erro.
Elegantes castiçais e um buquê de flores brancas em um vaso | Foto: Pexels
A mulher compartilhou alguns detalhes adicionais de sua história, notando que estava prestes a embarcar em um voo depois que alguém lhe disse para voltar para seu país, um comentário que ela recebeu com humor. Ela reconheceu os comentários que recebeu e admitiu que, embora não estivesse errada, ela entendia que poderia ter se aprofundado mais ou feito mais pesquisas, o que era justo.
A mulher também explicou que seu uso de “casamento branco” foi em referência ao fato de que foi o primeiro casamento em que a noiva, o noivo e a festa nupcial usaram branco. Ela enfatizou que o termo não pretendia ter nenhum significado profundo. Ela também postou uma foto de um vestido semelhante ao que usou no casamento, para seus seguidores do Reddit verem.
Uma mulher relaxando em um avião | Foto: Getty Images
Respondendo a um comentarista que culpou a mãe, criticando-a por fofocar, dar conselhos errados e convidar a mulher para o casamento de sua filha, o que, segundo o comentarista, deveria ser responsabilidade do casal, a mulher explicou:
“De onde eu venho, [isso] não é nada fora do comum. Presumi que ele tinha definido [o número] de convidados ou tinha permissão da filha.”
Comentários dos leitores
“Isso é culpa da mãe. Não só por ser fofoqueira e dar conselhos ruins, mas também por convidar você para o casamento da filha dela. O casal deveria convidar as pessoas. Não é culpa sua”, comentou um usuário.
“Gostaria que mais noivas parassem de se preocupar com o que seus convidados vestem”, comentou outra.
“Oi, como imigrante do Leste Europeu, eu também não entendo essa coisa de ‘ofuscar’ a noiva. É por isso que no meu primeiro casamento americano anos atrás, eu também usei o meu melhor e me arrumei demais. Eu não conseguia imaginar não usar o meu melhor. Eu me casei com uma pessoa do Sudeste Asiático, e em ambas as culturas, você não pode ‘ofuscar’ a noiva. Você pode usar as joias mais brilhantes, e a noiva vai aparecer com um lustre cheio! Não leve para o lado pessoal, seus colegas parecem muito mesquinhos. No entanto, se eles continuarem a fazer comentários inapropriados, entre em contato com o RH. Não é sua culpa”, disse outro.
“Como alguém pode ofuscar a noiva a menos que esteja usando um vestido de noiva de verdade?! Eu sou sul-asiática e nosso código de vestimenta para casamento é EXTRAVAGANTE. APENAS vá tão extravagante quanto quiser porque a noiva vai ofuscar todo o local!” outro usuário comentou.
O que você acha dessa história? Você acha que a mulher cometeu um erro ao escolher uma roupa que ofuscou a noiva, ou que sua colega mais velha deveria ter sido mais explícita ao especificar o código de vestimenta?
Boy Sees His Birthday Deliveries Planned for the Next 15 Years and Cries When He Finds Out Why – Story of the Day
Teenage boy Charlie struggles to understand why his peers receive expensive presents while he is left listening to his mother’s excuses. He discovers that his mother has prepared 15 gifts for his future birthdays. But after learning the reason behind it, he finally realizes what he truly wants.
Charlie, a 15-year-old with a backpack slung lazily over one shoulder, trudged out of school alongside his classmate Mark.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the parking lot, where students chattered and cars honked in a chaotic symphony.
“Did you hear? We’ve got another test on Friday,” Mark said, breaking the silence.
Charlie groaned, his shoulders slumping.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Oh no, not again! Is this the fourth test this week? School is exhausting…”
Mark smirked. “Don’t be so dramatic. It’s just studying. You always stress out before tests, but in the end, it all works out fine.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Charlie muttered, his eyes scanning the parking lot. His expression darkened as he frowned.
“My mom’s late again! How much longer do I have to wait?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Maybe something came up. Don’t be mad at her—she’s picking you up. You should be grateful,” Mark said with a shrug.
Charlie shot him a sideways glare.
“Yeah? I don’t see your mom’s car either. Are you super grateful that she’s late too?”
Mark chuckled softly and shook his head. “She won’t be picking me up anymore. My parents bought me a car for my birthday.”
Charlie stopped in his tracks, his jaw dropping.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What!? A car!? I’d be grateful too if someone got me a car!” he snapped, his voice laced with jealousy.
Mark shrugged again, calm as ever. “You should be grateful no matter what. She’s your mom. Anyway, see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah… bye,” Charlie mumbled, watching Mark stroll off toward the student lot.
As he stood there, stewing in frustration, a car horn blared from across the lot. Charlie spun around and saw his mom’s familiar car pulling up.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
With a sigh, he slung his backpack higher on his shoulder and jogged toward it, muttering under his breath. He opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat, his face already setting in a frown.
Alice, his mom, glanced over at him, her hands gripping the steering wheel.
“Sorry, sweetheart, I’m late again. I had to finish up a few things,” she said apologetically.
“You’re always late these days…” Charlie muttered, avoiding her gaze as he slumped further into his seat.
Alice sighed, keeping her voice calm.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I said I’m sorry. Now, tell me—how was your day?”
“Not great,” he replied shortly, his eyes fixed on the cars passing outside.
She glanced at him again, concern flickering across her face. “What happened?”
“Mark’s parents bought him a car for his birthday,” Charlie said flatly.
Alice smiled slightly, trying to lighten the mood.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“That’s wonderful! Did he give you a ride?”
Charlie turned to her, his expression incredulous.
“No. Mom, my birthday’s coming up soon. Can you get me a car?”
Alice’s hands tightened briefly on the wheel before she answered. “Sweetheart, I already have your gift planned. Maybe I can get you a car in a few years…”
“A few years!?” Charlie’s voice rose with frustration.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“So I have to wait while all my classmates drive around, and I look like an idiot?”
Alice exhaled and tried to keep her tone gentle as she said, “I know it’s hard, but I just can’t afford a gift like that right now.”
Charlie crossed his arms, his voice sharp. “Then return whatever gift you got and buy me a car!”
“I can’t do that, Charlie. I’m sorry,” she said firmly, though her voice was tinged with sadness.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He turned away, pressing his forehead against the window.
The hum of the engine filled the silence as Alice drove, glancing occasionally at her son, his disappointment weighing heavily on them both.
As she pulled into the driveway, the car came to a slow stop. She turned to Charlie, her face softening.
“Dinner’s in the fridge if you’re hungry. I have a few errands to run, but I won’t be long. Love you, sweetheart!”
“Yeah…” Charlie mumbled without meeting her eyes. He swung the car door open and headed into the house.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The door clicked shut behind him, and the silence of the empty house wrapped around him.
He dropped his backpack by the couch but didn’t bother to sit down. Something gnawed at the back of his mind—an itch he couldn’t ignore.
His mom had seemed calm, too calm, especially after their earlier argument. Why couldn’t she just tell him what she was up to?
His curiosity got the better of him. Quietly, he tiptoed into her bedroom, the air feeling heavier as if he were crossing an invisible line.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Sitting at her desk, he opened her laptop.
The screen glowed to life, and he hesitated for a moment before clicking on her email.
Most of it was unimportant—work notices, receipts, newsletters.
Then he spotted something unusual: an email confirming a delivery scheduled for his upcoming birthday.
His brow furrowed as he clicked it open.
His eyes widened. The delivery wasn’t a one-time thing. There were 14 more planned—one every year for the next 15 years.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What the…?” he muttered, his heart racing.
Confused and uneasy, he dug deeper, scrolling through her emails until he found an address for a storage unit.
Beneath a pile of papers in her drawer, he found a small key labeled with the same address.
His pulse quickened as he grabbed the key and headed out the door.
The storage unit loomed ahead, its metal door glinting faintly under the dull light of the parking lot.
Charlie unlocked it with trembling hands. As the door creaked open, he froze.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Inside, more than a dozen neatly wrapped gifts were arranged in a row.
They were all different sizes, some small enough to fit in his palm, others big enough to hold a bike.
Each was topped with a handwritten note in his mom’s familiar, looping script.
He stepped inside, the scent of cardboard and faint perfume hanging in the air. He picked up one note and read:
“Happy 17th birthday, sweetheart. I love you more than anything in the world. I hope you like this computer. Study hard!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
His throat tightened as he set the note back. Why had she done this?
He moved to the first gift, a small box with two notes attached. Pulling off the first, his breath caught as he began to read:
“My dear son, if you’re reading this, I may no longer be with you. For years, I’ve known I had cancer, and no treatment has worked. My time is limited, but I didn’t want your birthdays to feel empty after I’m gone.”
The words blurred as tears filled his eyes. He wiped his face, but the tears kept coming, spilling onto the paper.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“That’s why I prepared these gifts ahead of time. They may not always be exactly what you want, but please open one each birthday and know I love you. Always.”
Charlie let out a shaky breath as he clutched the note. His chest ached in a way he’d never felt before.
He looked around the storage unit, the gifts that suddenly felt so much more than just objects.
They were pieces of her love, her effort to stay with him even when she couldn’t.
He gently placed the note back, closed the door, and leaned against it for a moment.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
His heart was heavy, but it was full of something else too—a deeper understanding of what his mom had done for him.
The drive home was quiet. The world outside blurred, but his mind raced with emotions. He didn’t care about a car anymore.
What mattered now was something far greater.
Charlie stepped quietly into the living room, his shoes scuffing softly against the wooden floor.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
His mom, Alice, was perched on the couch, a book resting in her lap.
She was smiling faintly, her eyes scanning the pages, completely unaware of the emotional storm that had just swept over her son.
Charlie hesitated in the doorway, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. His eyes were red, swollen from crying, and his face held a mix of fear and heartbreak.
Alice looked up, her smile fading as she took in his expression. Alarm spread across her face.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Charlie! What’s wrong? Where were you?” she asked, setting the book aside and leaning forward.
“Mom!” he choked out, his voice breaking as he rushed across the room. He threw his arms around her, clinging to her tightly.
“Sweetheart, tell me what’s going on,” she said, her voice soft but urgent. She stroked his back gently, trying to calm him. “How can I help?”
Charlie pulled back slightly, his hands trembling as he wiped at his face.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I know, Mom. I went to the storage unit,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Alice stiffened, her eyes widening.
“What? Why? What were you doing there?” she asked, a hint of panic creeping into her tone.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Charlie cried, his voice breaking again.
“Isn’t there anything we can do?”
Alice took a deep breath, her lips quivering.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“There’s nothing, Charlie. I’m so sorry,” she said, tears brimming in her eyes.
“No, Mom, I’m sorry,” he said quickly, shaking his head.
“I’ve been such a terrible son. I don’t need a car or any gifts. None of that matters. I just want you to be with me.”
“Charlie…” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
“Please, Mom,” he begged, his voice desperate.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I love you!”
Alice pulled him close again, her own tears spilling over now.
“I love you too, sweetheart,” she said, her voice breaking as she held him tightly.
The room was quiet except for their soft cries, their embrace a fragile but powerful moment of love and understanding.
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Every man reaches a moment when he wants to settle down and have a loving family. But not Henry—he was convinced he would stay single forever, believing it was the better life for him. However, a day spent with his nine-year-old niece makes him realize the true reason behind his life choices.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
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