Neighbor Asked My Son to Wash His Car for a Month, Then Refused to Pay – I Taught Him a Lesson of My Own

I could tell something was wrong when Ben walked through the door that Friday evening. He was dragging his feet, and the usual brightness in his eyes was nowhere to be found.

His hands were still wet, probably from wringing out the towels after washing another car, and he avoided eye contact as he dropped onto the couch.

A frustated little boy | Source: Midjourney

A frustated little boy | Source: Midjourney

“Hey, bud, what’s going on?” I called from the kitchen.

I had planned on making him his favorite grilled chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner. I was going to have his plate ready the moment he walked in.

But looking at him now, I was worried. Ben was only 14 but recently got a taste of making money and wanted to be independent.

Plates of food | Source: Midjourney

Plates of food | Source: Midjourney

“Come on,” I said, wiping my hands. “You can tell me anything!”

For a second, he didn’t answer but stared at the ground. My heart sank when I saw the frustration etched on his face.

It was like he was trying to find the words but didn’t know how to get them out.

A close up of a little boy | Source: Midjourney

A close up of a little boy | Source: Midjourney

“He… he didn’t pay me,” Ben finally muttered.

“What do you mean? Didn’t Mr. Peterson agree to pay you $50 each time you washed his car?” I asked, feeling my own brow furrow.

Ben let out a sigh that sounded far too heavy for a 14-year-old.

“Yeah, but today, after I finished washing the car for the fourth time this month, he said it wasn’t ‘spotless’ and that I wouldn’t get paid. At all! He said I should have done a better job if I wanted my money.”

An upset boy | Source: Midjourney

An upset boy | Source: Midjourney

I felt my fists tighten. Mr. Peterson, that smug neighbor of ours who always had something slick to say. He strutted around in his suits, making sure everyone noticed the shine on his precious black Jeep.

“It’s a beautiful car, isn’t it?” he would ask, leaning out of his car. “Stunning!”

A few months ago, he became interested in Ben, especially after seeing Ben wash my car.

“Whoa! You’ve done a great job on your mom’s car, Ben! What do you say about washing my car every Friday? I’ll pay you, of course!”

A Jeep parked in a driveway | Source: Midjourney

A Jeep parked in a driveway | Source: Midjourney

Initially, I thought that it was a compliment, but now I could see it for what it really was:

A way to exploit cheap labor.

“You’ve been washing that car every week this month, haven’t you?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

Ben nodded, sinking deeper into the couch.

A close up of a woman | Source: Midjourney

A close up of a woman | Source: Midjourney

“Yeah, I’ve spent about three hours for the past four weeks, just making sure that it was clean. I even used the hand-vacuum under the seats and everything. But he said that I didn’t deserve to be paid.”

A flush of anger bloomed across my chest.

I knew Ben had done a great job. Whenever he did our car, I was always so impressed by him. And anyway, Mr. Peterson’s car gleamed like a showroom model when my son was done with it.

A frustrated boy | Source: Midjourney

A frustrated boy | Source: Midjourney

This wasn’t about the car being clean. No, sir. It was about Mr. Peterson being a jerk.

And now?

Now, Ben was left feeling like his hard work wasn’t worth anything.

“How much does he owe you?” I asked.

Ben thought for a moment.

A man in a suit | Source: Midjourney

A man in a suit | Source: Midjourney

“Four washes, Mom. So, $200.”

I pulled out my wallet and counted $200 in crisp bills. I handed it to him, watching his eyes widen in surprise.

“Here, you earned this, sweetheart.”

“Mom, you don’t have to. It was Mr. Peterson’s job to pay me!” he exclaimed.

I shook my head, cutting him off.

A woman taking money out of her wallet | Source: Midjourney

A woman taking money out of her wallet | Source: Midjourney

“I’m not done with Mr. Peterson, honey. He doesn’t get to treat you like this and walk away.”

Ben looked uncertain, his eyes flicking from the money in his hand to me.

“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 and sat down at the table.

A smiling boy | Source: Midjourney

A smiling boy | Source: Midjourney

“Thanks, Mom,” he said, smiling.

The next morning, I woke up with a plan. Mr. Peterson had no idea what was coming. I glanced out the window and, sure enough, there he was, standing in his silk pajamas, meticulously polishing his Jeep like a man obsessed.

I smiled and headed outside, casually walking toward him in my yoga clothes.

“Good morning, Mr. Peterson!” I called out cheerfully.

A man standing next to a Jeep in pajamas | Source: Midjourney

A man standing next to a Jeep in pajamas | Source: Midjourney

He looked up from his car, his usual smug expression already in place.

“Morning, Irene,” he said. “What can I do for you? But make it quick, I have brunch with the family soon.”

I could have rolled my eyes.

“Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to check in about Ben’s payment for washing your car,” I said. “He mentioned you weren’t satisfied with his work yesterday.”

A close up of a woman | Source: Midjourney

A close up of a woman | Source: Midjourney

Mr. Peterson straightened his back and crossed his arms.

“Yes, that’s right, Irene. The car wasn’t spotless, so I didn’t see the need to pay him. It’s a learning experience, you know? Anyway, he’s a young lad. The world has to humble him.”

The anger from the night before flared up again, but I kept my face neutral, even smiling a little.

“A learning experience, huh?” I said. “Interesting. Ben did tell me that you were a man of your word… and he mentioned that you agreed to pay him $50 per wash, regardless of how spotless it was. And wouldn’t you know it! I’ve got the pictures he took of the car after every wash.”

A man standing next to a Jeep | Source: Midjourney

A man standing next to a Jeep | Source: Midjourney

The smugness in his expression cracked a little.

“Pictures?” Mr. Peterson asked.

“Yes, pictures. He enjoyed sending them to his grandfather after every wash. He is very proud of his work.”

Mr. Peterson grunted.

“And anyway, it seems to me like a verbal agreement was made. And breaking that? Well, that’s a breach of contract, isn’t it? Should I speak to my lawyer about this?”

A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney

A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney

The color drained from his face.

“There’s no need for all that!” he exclaimed.

I held up a hand.

“Oh, I think there is. See, Ben worked hard, and you’re trying to cheat him out of what he earned. So, here’s the deal. You pay my son the $200 today, or I’ll make sure everyone in this neighborhood knows how you treat kids who work for you.”

A close up of a man | Source: Midjourney

A close up of a man | Source: Midjourney

He just stared at me.

“And if that doesn’t convince you, I’m more than happy to take legal action,” I continued.

I could see the panic settle into his features now. The neighbor with the perfect lawn and the perfect Jeep was suddenly sweating bullets into his silk pajamas.

He opened the car door and fumbled for his wallet, quickly counting out the cash.

A man's wallet | Source: Midjourney

A man’s wallet | Source: Midjourney

“Here’s your money,” he muttered, handing over $200 in crumpled bills.

“Great. It’s been good doing business with you,” I said with a smile. “But please, understand that my son will not touch a car of yours again.”

He nodded grimly.

Inside, Ben looked up from the couch when I walked in. He had a bowl of cereal in his hands, and his eyes widened when I handed him the cash.

A boy holding a bowl of cereal | Source: Midjourney

A boy holding a bowl of cereal | Source: Midjourney

“You actually did it!” he exclaimed.

I grinned, feeling a fierce sense of pride.

“No one messes with my son,” I said. “Especially when they think they can get away with not paying what’s owed. Next time, if someone tries to pull a stunt like that, you’ll know exactly how to handle it.”

“Does this mean that I have to give you the $200 back?” he grinned.

A smiling boy | Source: Midjourney

A smiling boy | Source: Midjourney

“No,” I laughed. “But I think you can take me out on a mother-son date for lunch today?”

“Deal, Mom,” he said.

Later, when we were sitting in a cute bistro, Ben leaned across his chair, squinting at the sign from the ice cream parlor across the road.

“Help wanted,” he read. “What do you think, Mom? A weekend job at an ice cream parlor?”

A mom and son duo at a bistro | Source: Midjourney

A mom and son duo at a bistro | Source: Midjourney

“Go for it,” I laughed, getting into my burger. “But if the boss is mean, you know who to call.”

My son smiled at me and nodded slowly before picking up a fry.

What would you have done?

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |

I Made My Boss Regret Humiliating My Wife’s Appearance in Front of the Whole Office

When Colin and his wife, Alice, end up working at the same company for business tyrant Mr. Taylor, they think that they’ve gotten a sweet deal while they branch out to their passions. But after one mistake at work, Alice is ridiculed in front of everyone, causing Colin to retaliate. As the couple lose their jobs, Colin is left fighting for revenge…

Working as a driver for the owner of a mid-sized company was never the dream, but it paid the bills. If I had to be honest, I would tell you that what I had always wanted to do was own my own construction company, but life often works in funny ways.

A smiling man dressed as a chauffer | Source: Midjourney

A smiling man dressed as a chauffer | Source: Midjourney

The silver lining to being a driver was that I got to go to fancy places and I got to work alongside my wife, Alice. We’d met years ago, long before either of us ended up working at the same place. But when Alice got the job as Mr. Taylor’s personal assistant, she dropped him my resume.

“It’s going to be okay, Colin,” she told me one evening when we were making pasta for dinner.

“He needs a personal driver, and you can do that. Neither of us have to stay there forever, but the pay is good enough for the moment. So, until something better comes along for us, we’ll have to make do.”

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney

“I know,” I agreed.

Read the full story here.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

Struggling Widowed Dad Acquires an Aged Stroller from a Flea Market, Detects a Crackling Noise When He Settles His Baby in It

A widowed father buys his newborn baby girl a second-hand stroller at the flea market and hears a strange crackling sound when he puts the baby in it. He inspects it and makes a heartbreaking discovery that changes their lives.

“This was our favorite spot by the window…All those sunsets when we kissed here! The way you used to blush when I whispered things, tucking your hair strands behind your ears,” Tyler, 30, cried near his bedroom window. Warm tears dropped on his late wife Kylie’s framed photo, haunting him with memories as he stared at the evening sky.

Tyler and Kylie led a happy marriage, and the next big thing happened in their lives when she fell pregnant. Tyler, a cashier in a grocery store, started dreaming of raising a beautiful family. Everything seemed like a beautiful portrait until a storm arrived and dropped a bomb in their nest the day Kylie went into labor…

Tyler could not hold back his tears as he recalled hearing their newborn baby girl Tiara’s loud cries from the maternity ward.–Advertisment–

“And then, they gave me my newborn baby to hold… How warm and soft her skin felt… When I asked about you, they showed you cloaked up to your forehead. Patting my shoulders, they said, ‘We’re sorry. We couldn’t save her.’ Why did you leave us, Kylie??”

Kylie had developed last-minute complications during labor and had died during childbirth, leaving Tyler with a mountainous responsibility on his shoulder.

Do not stop when a dark, difficult path arrives. Take one step at a time and keep going.
The sun disappeared behind the trees as an eerie darkness filled Tyler’s heart. He was lost in deep thought when suddenly, his six-month-old baby girl started crying.

“I’m coming… I’m coming, honey!” Tyler ran to fetch some warm milk. He had nobody to babysit Tiara, so he quit his job to tend to her day and night.

“Awwww…lo-lo-lo…” he fed his baby. Tiara wouldn’t sleep without Tyler cradling her in his arms. Sometimes, she would take over an hour to fall asleep, and Tyler had sore arms carrying her around for a long time.

“Where did I keep it?” Tyler began searching for a metal box where he saved money for petty expenses. Baby Tiara was asleep, so he was cautious not to wake her because once she was up, it would only mean Tyler would have another sleepless night.

“Ah, here it is!!” he exclaimed and opened the box, quickly counting the money. Tyler wanted to buy a stroller. “My arms will ache less and baby Tiara will be happy too!!”

The next day, Tyler went to the flea market in town to buy the baby buggy. Tiara was asleep in his arms, as Tyler walked up and down, cradling her to sleep.

He marched toward the store selling baby essentials and saw a woman with a stroller.

“Hey, miss…hey…hey…I love this stroller. I need one like this for my baby.”

Tyler saw a strange glow light up the woman’s eyes which appeared red, painful, and swollen. It looked as though she had spent several sleepless nights crying. Amanda looked at Tyler’s baby as tears rose in her eyes. She sighed heavily and said, “You can take this. I’ll give it to you for $10!!”

“Only for $10??!” Tyler exclaimed.

“Yes, I changed my mind after seeing your baby. You need this stroller more than I do now. You can take it!”

Tyler was surprised by the generous offer and quickly paid for the stroller. The woman took the money and immediately left, vanishing into the crowd and leaving Tyler puzzled but happy with the bargain.

“Ah, finally, sweetie, dad got you a new buggy. We will go home, clean it, and then you can rest in it, alright?!”

Tyler took the stroller home, unprepared for the discovery he was about to make.

He slightly dusted the stroller that looked too decent for its price. It was used but not worn out. He decided to take Tiara for a walk in her stroller and gently put her in, only to hear a strange crackling noise from under the padded seat. It sounded like a packet of chips getting crushed.

“What is that noise??” Tyler immediately withdrew his baby from the buggy and put her on the couch. He slightly lifted the padding and found a piece of folded paper.

“What is this?” he wondered as he unfolded it and saw a handwritten note addressed to a certain ‘Gigi.’

“To my beloved baby girl, Gigi. Darling, I miss you each minute, each second. Without you, my world has turned into a dark grave…” began the first line.

Tyler was stunned as he sat back near a fast-asleep Tiara and continued reading…

“Sweetie, please forgive mama. I know you’re with your daddy in heaven now. Please know that I will always love you. Please forgive me. I am forced to sell your stroller. Mama has nowhere to go, sweetheart. I love you and miss you, my baby. Love, Mama.”

Tyler’s heart almost skipped a beat when he realized this was a mother’s heartfelt confession to her dead child.

“What happened to her daughter? Who is this woman? Where is she now?” he wondered and set on a mission to find the bereaved mother, unaware of how fate would tie her to his life.

Tyler revisited the flea market the next day and returned to the store where he bought the stroller and inquired about the woman. Luckily, the CCTV footage in the store helped him track her down.

“Yeah, that’s her!” Tyler pointed to the screen.

“She came here to sell an old vintage clock. She told me it belonged to her late mother.”

“Do you know her house??”

“She told me her house is the last across the street.”

“Thanks, pal!!” Tyler said, hurrying to the woman’s house. There he saw the woman packing her things in a cloth bundle and an old suitcase.

“If you can’t pay your rent, you can’t stay here for free!” an older man yelled at her.

“Hey, miss, hey…you remember me? I bought a stroller from you yesterday, remember??” Tyler chimed in. “May I know your name?”

Moments of silence prevailed, and then she said, “My name is Amanda.”

“Amanda, hey, nice to meet you. I found your letter in the stroller,” Tyler added, and Amanda started to cry.

As it turned out, the baby buggy Amanda sold to Tyler was her only reminder of her dead child, who had lost her battle with cancer. Amanda was forced to sell it with the other old items in order to pay for her overdue rent.

“My daughter Gigi was five years old… She was too young and innocent… She didn’t know what cancer was. She was my only hope to live after I lost my husband,” Amanda cried.

The landlord kicked Amanda out because he wanted to lease the house for a higher price. Though Amanda got social security benefits, the money was drained, settling her late husband’s debts.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, Amanda. Listen, I have an idea. Why don’t you come and stay at my house until you find a better place to stay?”

Tyler sympathized with Amanda and invited her to live in his house if she wanted. Though hesitant at first, Amanda could not resist the pleasure of spending time with Tyler’s baby girl.

Amanda moved into Tyler’s house and tended to his baby while he returned to work. She cared for little Tiara like a mother, and even the baby loved being around her.

As time flew by, Tyler moved on from his sorrow. He realized that his daughter needed the love and care of both parents and popped the question to Amanda one day. They had fallen in love by then.

Tyler and Amanda married shortly after. They understood that besides needing each other’s support, they could heal each other’s wounds this way.

What can we learn from this story?

When two broken hearts collide, they heal each other’s wounds. Tyler and Amanda were grieving strangers who needed true support to release them from their sorrows. Fate drew parallels between them, and they helped each other overcome their grief.
Do not stop when a dark, difficult path arrives. Take one step at a time and keep going. After losing his wife, Tyler quit his job to tend to his newborn baby. He was devastated but kept going for his baby’s sake.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

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