I saved my three-year-old nephew from drowning but my brother won’t replace my broken phone, and people are divided
AFTER a life-threatening event occurred in their family, two brothers can’t seem to agree on a financial argument.
Reddit users, too, are torn as to who is in the right in this saga.
Posting anonymously to Reddit, a 19-year-old uncle shared what led to the family drama.
His older brother has a 3-year-old toddler who doesn’t yet know how to swim.
“My brother was watching his son when they were over at our parents place this weekend, but he got distracted for a minute and my nephew fell into the backyard swimming pool,” he began in the post.
Panicked, the uncle of course jumped in to rescue him.
“Thank God I heard it in time and jumped into the pool and saved him.
“We are all aware that a tragedy could have happened. Everyone is still in shock and my father already started working on gating the pool.”
This moment, however, led to a “financial loss” for the uncle.
“I had my cellphone in my pocket when I jumped in the pool, and it is dead now.”
Thinking that his brother owed him, he told him that he would buy a new phone and send him the bill to cover the cost.
“He thinks he is not responsible for paying and says he cannot believe that’s what I’m thinking about after his son almost died.”
That’s when the finger-pointing escalated.
“So I said it was HIS fault that his son almost died, he should be down on his knees thanking God and kissing my feet for saving his son’s life, and the least he can do is pay for a phone of my choice.”
The rest of the family, however, wasn’t sure that was the right approach, so the uncle asked for advice.
“My mother says to give him time. Am I the a**hole for insisting here?”
Reddit users were left divided.
“How much time does your mother expect you to give your brother? I’m assuming you need your phone on a daily basis like the rest of us, and it can’t wait,” one person began.
“Your brother should absolutely cover your costs. Had you saved one of my children’s lives, I’d buy you the most expensive version out there.”
Another said the cost is minimal when compared to the other possible outcome: “You would think the think the price of a new phone is small in comparison to hospital/ funeral arrangements.”
And a third agreed: “You were thinking only of your brother’s son when you jumped in to save him. If you had waited to remove your phone from being damaged, what would everyone had said?”
Others, however, thought he was being presumptuous.
“You don’t get a phone of your choice… I bet you were jumping at the opportunity to say this… At the same time, you saved his child from drowning, and he owes you to buy a new one [of the same model] or repair it,” one person argued.
“Also, this Is your family member not a stranger. The fact you’re taking advantage of the fact you saved your nephew is just ew.”
Another was suspicious of his reasoning: “Did you jump into the water to save your nephew or get a new phone? Because your motivation seems suspect. You are not a hero. You jumped in the water and got your nephew. That is what a good uncle does.”