A Story to renew your faith in the wealthy folks in US.
I live in a college town. A friend of mine lost her mother after a long illness in January of 2013. Her house was a lovely 3 bedroom home close to campus. She and her husband worked hard to keep their home up to date, original hardwood floors, new bathrooms and kitchen, new windows and doors etc.
When Polly put the house on the market after her mother died she did not anticipate it taking forever to sell. When it did not sell after 7 months on the market they decided to rent it and then put it back on the market when the economy improved. She tried to screen the applicants as best she could.
A nice young woman, a student and her twin sister, both Seniors in their last year, came with their mother and dad to look at the house. It seemed like a great fit, they were going to rent it with another friend each would have their own room. Mom and Dad signed the lease along with the girls as insurance that the property would be maintained. Mom and Dad drove up in a new S class Mercedes, daughters in new BMW's if you get the idea.
The girls graduated this summer and moved out a week ago, never late with rent, yard always taken care of no outward sign of damage. Polly called me the day after they moved in tears, the place was trashed. The bathrooms and kitchen had not been cleaned in forever, the floors in both bathrooms and the kitchen were beyond being cleaned. Food had been left in the fridge already rotten before they moved. Stains all over the walls, the hardwood floor in the dining room was ruined by what looked like a keg that had been left to leak all over the floor.
She didn't know what to do, the cell phone the girls had given her on the lease no longer was in service. I told her since Mom and Dad were listed on the lease call them. She did, the Mom asked for pictures, she sent them electronically. Not more than 10 minutes later Mom called Polly in tears. She was mortified that her kids would do that to someone's property. She said not to touch a thing, they would drive up from Texas that evening when her husband got home.
They arrived with all three girls in tow. Girls did NOT look like they had a great trip back to campus. Dad asked for keys, said they would be there a couple of days making things right. We thought they would pay to have it fixed, no, they told those girls to roll up their sleeves and get busy. Neighbors said those girls worked like dogs for 3 days to fix that place, they painted, they helped their Dad replace the floors, Mom and Dad bought a new fridge and dishwasher (both were beyond being cleaned), they even washed all of the windows inside and out. The last day Dad and Mom came by with the keys and the girls. The girls apologized to Polly and asked to see a picture of her parents who had lived there, then they began to cry. Mom and Dad handed Polly and envelope and left. Inside the envelope was a nice card and $1500 dollars (she had already kept their 500 deposit).
I thought it was important to share this since we do tend to trash the rich here on DU, rightfully in many cases. I looked up the Dad on the net, he is the President of a fairly large oil exploration company, but he is self made, nothing was left to him. I bet those girls will not forget this any time soon. They are young women but I think Mom and Dad felt they needed this last life lesson.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Everything must be interpreted through the lenses of class, stature, and politics.
I loved your story by the way, and have known some fine wealthy people in my life (all in Texas, where I still live.) 
"If you "clearly" meant something else why didn't you say something else..."
Efficient shorthand for the rational thinker. Much as the 17 year old neighbor who told me last month she had "discovered" the Beatles. Well-- I could have been a petulant ass and informed her that no-- the Beatles were discovered in the early sixties, but as I both understand what she was telling me and am not a petulant ass, I smiled, and told her what my favorite Beatles album is that I "discovered" in 1979...
I didn't tell it to have it taken apart, although I should have guessed it would be here . It has been a rough week, I didn't think the loss of Robin Williams would impact me the way it has, made me sad, made me want to look for some good which is why I told the story.
I have found I need to take a break from DU from time to time. I don't post much because people can be so hateful that it wears on you. During the election cycle I limit myself so I don't go out in the world hating everyone who doesn't think like I do .
Thank you for the kind words.
But I get your point - I don't usually write about incidents I've witnessed or conversations I've had or overheard or things I've said or done, because I know they will be questioned and picked apart, complete with accusations of having made the whole thing up or using the "wrong" words, which "proves" I must be a right-wing troll. I enjoy DU most of the time, and there's lots of great information and plenty of great people, but there is just enough irrational hatefulness that sometimes it does suck.
I'm glad you posted. It was a good thing those parents did.
Peace. 
