Seeing the cans of paint with our label in his garage, I was infuriated but chose not to argue further. I told him to keep the paint and left, feeling a mix of anger and defeat. Karen and I were disheartened by our inability to reclaim what was rightfully ours.
Weeks later, Mr. Jenkins proudly showcased his newly painted living room to the neighbors. However, his satisfaction was short-lived as his walls began to peel due to improper preparation. He later complained about the costly repairs required to fix the mess, which was compounded by the fact that the price of the paint had increased.
The neighborhood buzzed with news of Mr. Jenkins’ misfortune, and many felt he deserved it. Seeing him face the consequences of his deceit was a form of justice for us. Though we never got our paint back, the knowledge that Mr. Jenkins was paying for his dishonesty provided some satisfaction.