In the neighborhood, Mrs. Johnson had always been the picture of perfection, striding around in sharp business attire without acknowledging anyone. Her aloof demeanor did not bother the narrator at first; they were preoccupied with their son, Ethan.
However, things changed when Ethan, eager to earn some money, took on the task of mowing Mrs. Johnson’s expansive lawn for twenty dollars. He worked tirelessly for two days, but when he went to collect his payment, she dismissed him, claiming that hard work was its own reward.
Ethan’s disappointment was palpable, and it sparked a protective fury in his mother. She couldn’t believe that someone could trick a child into doing labor without compensation. Determined to ensure her son received justice, she concocted a plan to make Mrs. Johnson experience a lesson in accountability.
The first step involved calling her friend Mark, who owned a landscaping business. She devised a scheme to have Mark trim Mrs. Johnson’s beloved hedges into amusing shapes.
Next, she ordered three truckloads of mulch to be dumped on Mrs. Johnson’s driveway, blocking her car and creating a spectacle for the neighborhood to witness. As the trucks unloaded their cargo, neighbors began to gather, whispering about the unfolding drama.
When Mrs. Johnson returned home and saw the piles of mulch, her sh0ck quickly turned to fury. She confronted the narrator, demanding to know if she was responsible. With a smile, the narrator reminded her of her treatment of Ethan, making it clear that her actions had consequences.
Embarrassed and cornered, Mrs. Johnson grudgingly retrieved a crumpled twenty-dollar bill and handed it to Ethan, who was initially stunned. His mother encouraged him to accept it, ensuring he felt vindicated. As Mrs. Johnson sped away, the neighborhood shared knowing glances, and Ethan’s beaming smile reflected his mother’s successful intervention.
From that day forward, Mrs. Johnson never approached Ethan for help again, and the tale of her misdeeds became a cautionary story in the community. It served as a reminder of the importance of honesty and the consequences of taking advantage of others. The mulch eventually faded, but the lesson lingered, reinforcing the values of fairness and respect among the neighbors.