Two twenty-something gamers hit a Warhammer convention expecting epic battles, only to get ambushed into babysitting a swarm of abandoned kids whose parents bolted for the Baltimore shops. With zero warning and pocket-change lunch money, the guys corralled the 8- to 16-year-olds all day.
Then came the revenge: they marched the hungry pack straight to Hooters for mountains of wings and waitress attention. When the parents finally strolled back, the bus driver Jim blocked the door, handed over a massive bill for food and “kid-tainment,” and refused to roll until every penny was paid, leaving the entitled shoppers stunned and broke.
A Redditor and friend turned abandoned convention kids’ day into a expensive life lesson for neglectful parents.
What started as an innocent day of Warhammer turned into an impromptu field trip in parental neglect, complete with underfunded lunch budgets and zero communication. The real magic, though, was how two twenty-somethings flipped the script from annoyed to legendary with one gloriously petty lunch choice.
At its heart, this story exposes the casual entitlement some parents show when they treat any nearby adult as on-call childcare. The kids were dropped off (figuratively) with strangers because the waterfront shops were calling, and the assumption was that “someone” would handle it.
From the parents’ perspective, they might argue it “takes a village” or that the gaming crowd is inherently trustworthy, fair points until you remember the village usually likes a heads-up.
On the flip side, the young men who stepped up showed remarkable responsibility, keeping everyone safe and fed while still sending a crystal-clear message: if you’re going to outsource parenting for the day, expect the bill.
What’s more, this is a microcosm of a very real societal trend. According to the Urban Institute’s 2023 report on informal childcare in the U.S., roughly 25% of families with children under 13 rely on non-parental care arrangements that aren’t licensed or paid. Think friends, relatives, or in this case, random responsible-looking gamers.
Those arrangements work beautifully when everyone’s on the same page, but they crumble fast when consent and compensation never enter the chat.
Child development experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics have spoken directly to this dynamic: “Active and positive supervision” involves “focusing on the positive rather than the negative to teach what is safe for the child and other children.”
Their point lands perfectly here. The kids actually had a fantastic and memorable day, but only because two strangers chose responsibility over resentment. Without that choice, the outcome could have ranged from bored kids wandering a convention hall to something far worse.
The Hooters detour, while hilarious, also cleverly highlighted the absurdity: these parents were fine leaving children at an event centered on fictional ultraviolence, yet clutched pearls over chicken wings and friendly waitstaff. It forced them to confront their own selective outrage and their wallets.
Neutral advice? If you’re heading to an event with age restrictions and a bus schedule, either stay with your kids or arrange (and pay) proper supervision in advance. Clear communication and a Venmo request upfront beat shocked Pikachu faces at 5:30 p.m. every time.
Check out how the community responded:
Some people praise the clever way Jim handled the entitled parents and forced them to pay.
Some people say the story is hilarious and the kids had the time of their lives.
Some people call out the parents as entitled, irresponsible, or neglectful.
Some people simply love the story or suggest sharing it elsewhere.
Years later, this Games Day saga still serves delicious, spicy-wing-flavored justice: treat strangers like free babysitters, and you might come back to a five-hundred-dollar surprise seasoned with extra side-eye. It’s a master class in boundaries, a tribute to quick-thinking heroes, and a gentle reminder that parenting-by-osmosis rarely ends well.
Would you have handled the abandoned kids with the same flair, or called the parents (or security) immediately? Drop your verdict below, because we all know someone who’d try this at the next con!
