My neighbor Tom thought my old sedan was an eyesore in our upscale neighborhood. One night, he took matters into his own hands and doused my car with water, freezing it solid. But little did he know, karma had a way of paying a visit.
I had inherited the sedan from my dad, and every scratch and dent told a story. When Tom approached me about getting rid of the car, I stood my ground. He threatened to make sure I had to replace it if I didn’t get rid of it, but I wasn’t intimidated.
The next morning, I found my car encased in ice, and Tom was smugly sipping coffee on his porch. I confronted him, but he denied any involvement. That night, a strange whooshing sound woke me up, and I saw that a fire hydrant on Tom’s property had exploded, sending water jetting towards his house. The water froze in the cold air, encasing his perfect home and SUV in a thick crystal shell.
The next morning, the neighborhood was abuzz with people gawking at the spectacle. Tom was frantically trying to chip away at the ice, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. But then I remembered my dad’s words about kindness and helping others, even those who don’t deserve it. I grabbed my ice scraper and offered to help Tom.
As we worked together, Tom’s demeanor changed, and he eventually apologized for his behavior. He even offered me $5,000 as a peace offering, which I accepted. I used the money to restore my sedan to its former glory, and it became a head-turner in the neighborhood. Tom would sometimes nod in appreciation, and I realized that sometimes, the best revenge is indeed kindness.
From that day on, Tom and I had a tentative truce, and I learned that treating people with kindness, even when they’re difficult, can be the most powerful response of all.
