When Mrs. Johnson first moved into our quiet neighborhood, her presence stood out. Dressed in sharp business attire, she hurried off each morning with purpose, her heels clicking on the pavement as she disappeared into the world. Her aloof nature made it clear she wasn’t interested in small talk or local friendships. As a result, she kept her distance, and the neighbors quickly learned to let her be. Personally, I didn’t think much of it. I always embraced the “live and let live” approach, and my own life was busy enough managing my 12-year-old son, Ethan, and keeping up with my responsibilities.
Ethan’s Hard Work
One particularly hot afternoon, Ethan returned home exhausted and drenched in sweat. His shirt clung to him, and his face showed the strain of a long day. As he slumped onto the couch, I immediately asked what had happened.
“Mrs. Johnson asked me to mow her lawn,” he explained, still catching his breath. “She promised me twenty bucks.”
I glanced out the window and saw the expansive yard, its grass perfectly trimmed and neatly lined. Ethan had worked hard for two days to get it done, and his pride was evident. The money he had hoped to earn was for a special gift for his grandma, something he had been saving up for.
“She hasn’t paid you yet?” I asked, noticing how well the yard had been taken care of.
“No, but she will,” Ethan responded, trying to remain optimistic.
The Disappointment
As days passed, I noticed Ethan becoming more withdrawn. He wasn’t his usual talkative self, and I could tell something was bothering him. One evening, as he stared out the window, I asked, “Is something bothering you?”
“She still hasn’t paid me,” he muttered.
Encouraging him to go back and ask for the money, I was stunned by his response the following day. “I did. She just brushed me off and told me to come back later. Today, she told me to get lost,” he said, the disappointment clear in his voice.
Mrs. Johnson had brushed him off, telling him that the experience itself was payment enough, and that he didn’t really need the money. I was shocked by her deceit, and although I smiled at Ethan to reassure him, inside, I was seething with anger. I wasn’t going to let her get away with this.
Taking Action
Determined to make things right for Ethan, I spent the next morning observing Mrs. Johnson as she left for work in her usual pristine manner. Once she was gone, I wasted no time setting my plan into motion. With a quick phone call to an old friend, Mark, who ran a landscaping business, I had begun the first step.
“Re-shaping her hedges?” Mark chuckled knowingly. “Got it.”
Mrs. Johnson was especially proud of her hedges, often spending Saturdays meticulously trimming them to perfection. They were her pride and joy. But she wasn’t ready for what was coming.
I made another call, this time pretending to be Mrs. Johnson, and ordered three truckloads of mulch to be delivered to her driveway. By the time the mulch was delivered, it was blocking her entire entrance, creating an impossible situation for her to navigate.
The Result
As the word spread through our neighborhood, people gathered to watch Mrs. Johnson’s reaction when she returned home. When she saw the blockades and the oddly trimmed hedges, her shock quickly turned to frustration and anger. The whole neighborhood witnessed her struggle, and the moment she had to face the consequences of her actions was exactly what I had hoped for.
Finally, with no way out, Mrs. Johnson grudgingly handed Ethan the money she owed him. The crowd watching couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. “Here,” she muttered as she handed over the bill to Ethan.
Ethan took the money, still somewhat bewildered but clearly delighted. I couldn’t help but smile as I turned to him. “You deserve it,” I told him.
Mrs. Johnson never asked for Ethan’s help again after that incident, and the story of her refusal to pay for his hard work became a legendary tale in our neighborhood. It was a lesson to all about the importance of honesty, hard work, and keeping one’s promises.
