Parents will think twice before skipping a birthday invitation. Alex Nash from Cornwall, England was invited to a birthday party in December. The five-year-old’s parents confirmed their son would be attending but later realized Alex was due to spend time with his grandparents. Derek Nash, Alex’s dad said the boy “chose to be with his grandparents,” instead of attending the party. The birthday boy’s mother, Julie Lawrence, gave the family a surprised when on January 15, Alex came home with an invoice. The bill of £15.95, roughly $24US was for “Childs Party No Show Fee.” Initially, the family thought it was a joke and attempted to contact Lawrence only to realize she was serious. What followed was hostile Facebook message exchanges between Lawrence and Alex’s mom Tanya Walsh. Lawrence has threaten to take Nash and Walsh to small claims court. The birthday party was held at the Plymouth Ski and Snowboard Centre. The fee included snow tubing, tobogganing and food. The company has clarified on Facebook that it has nothing to do with the charge despite its address being on the invoice. “No invoices are ever sent out from the centre to private individuals. This is a disagreement between the two parents involved and the fact that the centre has been named on the invoice is fraudulent.” Perhaps the real tragedy in the debacle is that the two boys no longer speak or play with each other. A childhood friendship lost over an adult dispute.
