When my 12-year-old son, Ben, agreed to shovel snow for our wealthy neighbor, Mr. Dickinson, for $10 a day, he was thrilled to buy gifts for the family. But when Mr. Dickinson refused to pay, calling it a “lesson about contracts,” Ben was heartbroken. I decided to teach Mr. Dickinson a lesson he’d never forget.
Ben had a big heart and a strong work ethic. Every day, he’d shovel the driveway, his excitement growing as he neared his goal of buying a dollhouse for his sister and a scarf for me. But on December 23rd, after working hard all morning, Ben came home in tears. Mr. Dickinson had refused to pay, claiming there was no contract.
Angry and determined, I went to Mr. Dickinson’s house. He smugly dismissed me, saying that’s how the “real world” works. I smiled sweetly and walked away, already planning my revenge.
The next morning, while Mr. Dickinson slept, our family bundled up and went to work. We shoveled snow from our driveway and pushed it all onto his, creating a massive snowbank. By mid-morning, his driveway was buried under a mountain of snow.
When Mr. Dickinson confronted us, I explained the legal concept of quantum meruit—that if you refuse to pay for labor, you lose the right to enjoy the benefit of it. He blustered, but I had witnesses. Defeated, he returned later with $80 in cash and apologized to Ben.
Ben smiled, and I whispered, “Thank you for showing me what real determination looks like.”