How Lipstick and Lattes Served Up the Perfect Petty Revenge at Brunch
Breakups are rarely clean affairs—especially when you’re a teenager, and the world feels like it’s ending because someone broke your heart over text. The only thing more satisfying than a good cry with your besties? Serving up a slice of petty revenge that’s equal parts harmless and hilarious. One Reddit user, u/Quiet-Inspector-8209, delivered just that, turning a dull Saturday brunch into a lipstick-laden saga of karmic justice.
Let’s set the scene: a heartbroken friend, a not-so-chivalrous ex-boyfriend, and a brunch order that would make even the most seasoned barista sweat. Grab your lip gloss and your mimosas—this is one story you don’t want to miss.
Lipstick, Lattes, and a Little Payback
Fifteen years ago, in a tale that’s aged like fine wine (or perhaps, like a poorly-washed glass), a group of friends decided to stand up for one of their own. The instigator? A teenage breakup so “dumb” the details are lost to time, but the sting of rejection was as fresh as ever. The villain? A part-time dishwasher at a local restaurant, who had—crucially—confided that washing lipstick off glassware was his personal dish pit nightmare.
Now, anyone who’s ever worked in food service knows the pain: lipstick stains cling to glasses like barnacles on a ship. No matter how many times you scrub, there’s always a faint pink outline mocking your efforts. So, when the opportunity arose to exact a little lipstick-laden vengeance, our protagonists couldn’t resist.
The Brunch Bamboozle
Armed with an arsenal of lipsticks in every shade imaginable, the squad rolled into the ex’s workplace on a Saturday morning—prime brunch hour. Their mission was simple: order as many drinks as possible, from juices to smoothies to coffees, and apply a fresh layer of lipstick before each sip. The result? A table groaning under the weight of glassware, each rim sporting a perfect, bold pout—like a lipstick commercial gone rogue.
While the ex-boyfriend toiled away in the back, scrubbing and cursing under his breath, the girls giggled over their pastries. There’s something empowering about supporting a friend with a little harmless mischief. According to u/Quiet-Inspector-8209, “It was very petty, but my friend was feeling way better after.” Mission accomplished.
Why Petty Revenge Hits Different
Let’s be honest: there’s a reason the r/PettyRevenge subreddit is such a treasure trove of guilty pleasures. Petty revenge isn’t about causing harm—it’s about reclaiming a smidge of control (and dignity) when life throws you a curveball. It’s the art of being just annoying enough to feel victorious, but not so cruel that you need to worry about bad karma.
In this story, the brilliance lies in its creativity and harmlessness. No one got hurt, no reputations were ruined, and the only thing truly at risk was a dishwasher’s sanity (and maybe his supply of dish soap). Plus, it delivered the ultimate consolation prize: helping a heartbroken friend laugh—and heal—in the process.
Lessons in Lipstick (and Friendship)
What can we learn from this tale of lipstick and lattes? For one, never underestimate the lengths friends will go to in the name of solidarity. While grand gestures are great, sometimes the smallest acts—a brunch, a tube of lipstick, a knowing wink—can make all the difference.
It’s also a gentle reminder that, while revenge is often best left to the movies, there’s a certain magic in harmless pranks. If you can make someone smile, even at the expense of a few extra minutes at the dish pit, maybe that’s a win worth celebrating.
Your Turn: What’s Your Petty Revenge Story?
Do you have a story of harmless payback that still makes you chuckle? Maybe you swapped the salt for sugar, or rearranged a frenemy’s perfectly alphabetized bookshelf. Share your best (or pettiest) revenge stories in the comments below! If nothing else, you’ll give someone a much-needed laugh—and maybe a little inspiration for their next brunch outing.
After all, life is too short not to leave a little lipstick on the rim.
Ready to confess your own petty moments? Drop your stories below, and don’t forget to subscribe for more tales of mischief, friendship, and karmic justice!
Original Reddit Post: My friend's BF broke up with her, enjoy washing all those glasses