Dear Prudence,
I work a full-time and part-time job while going to school. I pay rent and live with my uncle, his girlfriend “Ava,” and her three teenage Neanderthals. Ava treats me as her live-in maid. Anytime there is a mess, she stomps up complaining and expects me to drop everything and clean. It is clean until her disgusting sons come in and mess everything up. But it is too hard for Ava to actually parent them. She rather scream at me. It is so bad that I don’t use the common areas anymore and bought a microwave and mini-fridge. Last time I was gone for three days, Ava welcomes me home by screeching about how dirty the house was. I screamed back that I am not cleaning up messes that I didn’t make, and I pay rent, unlike other people.
She went whining to my uncle about disrespect. He told me I needed to respect the household. I told him to respect our signed lease. If he kicked me out, he could see me in small claims court. He told me he regrets letting me in. I cried and said did he regret getting the light and water turned back on then? Everything is horrible, and I can’t afford to move out. Help.
—No Cinderella Here