Mrs. Johnson was known in the neighborhood for her perfect appearance, always dressed in business attire and avoiding greetings. The narrator didn’t mind her distant nature, being more focused on their son, Ethan.

Things changed when Ethan agreed to mow Mrs. Johnson’s lawn for $20. After two days of hard work, she refused to pay him, stating, “effort is its own reward.” Ethan was disappointed, and his mother became fiercely protective, finding it outrageous that a child was cheated out of his earnings.

Determined to right the wrong, she orchestrated a dramatic response: three truckloads of mulch were dumped on Mrs. Johnson’s driveway, blocking her car and drawing the attention of the entire neighborhood. Mrs. Johnson, furious, confronted the narrator, who simply reminded her of how she had treated Ethan.

Cornered, Mrs. Johnson reluctantly gave Ethan a crumpled $20 bill. His mother encouraged him to accept it, ensuring he felt vindicated. The neighborhood looked on, aware of the lesson unfolding.

From that day, Mrs. Johnson never asked for Ethan’s help again. Word spread about her behavior, serving as a reminder to the community about the importance of fairness and integrity. Though the mulch eventually disappeared, the lesson remained.