I recently attended a colleague’s birthday dinner at a fancy restaurant, bringing a thoughtful gift to celebrate the occasion. However, my generosity was put to the test when the birthday girl texted me afterwards, expecting me to pay a hefty $190 plus tip for my share of the bill.
I was taken aback by the request, feeling that the gift I had brought was a sufficient gesture. I decided to respond to her text with a lighthearted message, implying that the gift was my contribution to the celebration.
The next day, I walked into work to find my colleagues buzzing about someone who had refused to pay their share of the dinner bill. I kept quiet, not revealing that I was the one being talked about. But what shocked me was finding the gift I had brought to the birthday girl sitting on my desk, returned to me without a note.
I couldn’t help but feel that the birthday girl’s actions were a breach of etiquette. Shouldn’t the host take care of the expenses, especially when they’re the one inviting guests? I still believe that expecting someone to bring a gift and pay for an expensive dinner is unreasonable. Was I wrong to feel that way?
