When Ben walked through the door that Friday evening, I immediately noticed something was wrong. His usual energy was gone, and his body language said it all—his shoulders were slumped, and he was dragging his feet. His hands were still damp, likely from the towels he used to clean the car, but his eyes lacked their usual sparkle.
I had planned to prepare his favorite dinner—grilled chicken and mashed potatoes—thinking it would lift his spirits. But as I watched him slump onto the couch, my worry grew. At just 14, Ben had begun taking on small jobs, eager to gain some independence. His new venture—washing cars—was supposed to be a way to make a bit of extra cash and feel proud of his work.
“Hey, bud, what’s going on?” I asked, trying to hide my concern.
The Disappointment of Mr. Peterson’s Unfair Treatment
For a moment, Ben didn’t respond. His gaze was fixed on the floor, and I could see that he was struggling to find the words to express his frustration. I waited patiently, but my heart sank as I watched him. Finally, he muttered something that made my blood boil.
“He… he didn’t pay me.”
I froze. “What do you mean? Didn’t Mr. Peterson agree to pay you $50 each time you washed his car?” I asked, a frown crossing my face.
Ben let out a deep sigh, heavy for a 14-year-old, and shook his head. “Yeah, but today, after I finished washing his car for the fourth time this month, he said it wasn’t ‘spotless’ and that I wouldn’t get paid. He said I should’ve done a better job if I wanted my money.”
A wave of anger rushed over me. I couldn’t believe it. Mr. Peterson, our neighbor, was the kind of person who never missed an opportunity to boast about his shiny black Jeep. He would often lean out of his car window, bragging, “It’s a beautiful car, isn’t it? Stunning!”
It became clear to me that Mr. Peterson had seen Ben washing our car and decided to exploit my son’s eagerness to earn money.
Ben’s Hard Work and Dedication
“Let me guess,” I said, already knowing the answer. “You’ve been washing his car every week for the past month?”
Ben nodded, sinking deeper into the couch, his voice tinged with frustration. “Yeah, I’ve spent about three hours every Friday for the past four weeks, just making sure it was clean. I even vacuumed under the seats and everything. But he said I didn’t deserve to be paid.”
I couldn’t contain my anger. My son had worked hard, and I had seen the results. Every time he washed our car, I was impressed by how meticulous he was. Mr. Peterson’s car, when Ben was done with it, always looked like it belonged in a showroom.
This wasn’t about the car’s cleanliness—it was about Mr. Peterson taking advantage of Ben’s hard work. And now, my son was left feeling like his efforts meant nothing.
Setting Things Right
“How much does he owe you?” I asked, trying to stay calm despite the rising anger in my chest.
Ben thought for a moment before answering. “Four washes, Mom. So, $200.”
Without hesitation, I pulled out my wallet and counted out $200 in crisp bills. I handed it to him, watching his eyes widen in surprise. “Here, you earned this, sweetheart.”
Ben protested, looking at the money in his hand and then at me. “Mom, you don’t have to. It was Mr. Peterson’s job to pay me!”
I shook my head, cutting him off before he could say more. “I’m not done with Mr. Peterson, honey. He doesn’t get to treat you like this and just walk away,” I said firmly.
Ben looked conflicted, his eyes flicking between the money in his hand and my determined expression. “But, Mom!”
“No ‘buts,’ Ben,” I said, putting my wallet away. “Trust me, I’m going to teach Mr. Peterson a lesson about what happens when you take advantage of someone’s hard work. Now, come on, let’s eat. I’m starving!”
Ben smiled, looking relieved, and sat down at the table with me. I had made it clear to him that his hard work mattered, and I wasn’t about to let Mr. Peterson get away with this.
Taking Action Against Mr. Peterson
As we sat down to dinner, I couldn’t stop thinking about how unfairly Ben had been treated. It wasn’t just about the money—it was about respect. No one should be allowed to exploit someone else’s hard work, especially not a young teenager just trying to do something for himself.
I knew I had to confront Mr. Peterson. It wasn’t enough for me to just hand Ben the money and leave it at that. I wanted to show my son that he deserved respect and that there were consequences for people who treated others poorly.
I would make sure Mr. Peterson understood exactly what happens when someone takes advantage of a hardworking kid like Ben. No one gets away with that on my watch.
