It all started with our home renovation project. My wife, Karen, and I had decided to redo the living room. We had a clear vision in mind and wanted everything to be perfect, so we ordered this fancy, eco-friendly paint. It cost a small fortune, but we thought it was worth it for both the aesthetic and environmental benefits.
A couple doing renovations | Source: Midjourney
“We should have the paint by Tuesday,” Karen said, looking at the order confirmation. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. “I can’t wait to get started!”
“Me neither,” I replied, sharing her excitement. “That paint is supposed to be the best on the market.”
Tuesday came, but the paint didn’t. I checked the doorstep multiple times throughout the day, but it remained empty. Concerned, I decided to call the delivery company to investigate.
Man talking on his phone | Source: Pexels
“Hello, I ordered some paint, and it was supposed to arrive today,” I explained to the customer service representative.
“Let me check that for you,” she responded courteously. After a brief pause, she returned with, “Our records show it was delivered this morning.”
“But there’s nothing here,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice.
“Maybe check with your neighbors?” she suggested politely.
A woman in a call center | Source: Pexels
I thanked her and hung up, though I felt far from satisfied. Determined to solve the mystery, I walked over to our neighbor, Mrs. Thompson, and knocked on her door.
“Hi, Mrs. Thompson,” I greeted her warmly. “Did you see a delivery for us by any chance?”
“No, dear, I haven’t,” she replied sympathetically. “I hope you find it.”
A sympathetic elderly woman | Source: Pexels
I made my rounds, checking with a few other neighbors, but no one had seen or received our paint. Each negative response only heightened my frustration and confusion.
A few days later, Karen came running into the kitchen, a postcard clutched in her hand.
“Look at this!” she exclaimed, handing it to me with wide eyes. It was from our neighbor, Mr. Jenkins.
“Extra premium eco-friendly paint for sale,” I read aloud. “Delivered to me by mistake, used some, selling the rest at a generous discount.”
A man reading a note in his living room | Source: Midjourney
“That’s our paint!” Karen cried, her voice a mix of disbelief and outrage. “He took it!”
“I can’t believe this,” I muttered, feeling my anger rise. “I’m going to talk to him right now.”
With the postcard in hand, I marched over to Mr. Jenkins’ house, a blend of nerves and determination fueling my steps. I knocked on his door, and moments later, he appeared, wearing a sly smile.
A young man with a sly smile | Source: Pexels
“Hello there,” he greeted, his eyes flicking to the postcard. “Interested in some paint?”
“Actually, Mr. Jenkins, I think that’s our paint,” I said, striving to keep my cool. “It was supposed to be delivered to us last Tuesday.”
His smile faltered slightly. “Oh, is that so?” he replied, scratching his head in feigned confusion. “Well, it’s here now. I’ve used some of it already. If you want the rest, you’ll have to pay for it.”
A blonde man scratching his head | Source: Midjourney
I could hardly believe my ears. “Mr. Jenkins, that paint belongs to us,” I insisted, my patience wearing thin.
“Can you prove it?” he asked, raising an eyebrow defiantly. “Because if you can’t, then it’s mine. And like I said, you’ll have to pay for what’s left.”
“Show me the paint,” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. “I want to see it.”
“Fine, come in,” he said, stepping aside reluctantly. I walked into his house, my heart sinking at the thought of confronting him further.
Cans of paint | Source: Pexels
Inside, Mr. Jenkins led me to his garage, where several cans of paint were stacked neatly against the wall. I recognized the distinctive labeling immediately. He had indeed taken our order and had the audacity to use some and try to sell the rest.
“See? I’ve got the paint right here,” he said smugly.
I took a deep breath, realizing that reasoning with him was pointless. “Keep it. I hope you enjoy it.”
“Oh, I will,” he said, grinning. “Thanks for stopping by.”
A frustrated man | Source: Pexels
I left his house, feeling a mix of anger and disappointment. How could someone be so deceitful? Karen was waiting for me at home, and when I told her what happened, she was just as upset.
“That’s it?” she asked, throwing her hands up. “He just gets away with it?”
“Looks like it,” I replied, sitting down. “There’s nothing we can do.”
A couple of weeks passed, and Mr. Jenkins was showing off his newly painted living room to everyone. He invited the neighbors over, one by one, to admire his handiwork. He was bragging about how much he saved by using the high-end paint and how good it looked.
An arrogant man | Source: Midjourney
“Come on in,” he’d say to anyone who stopped by. “Check out my new living room. Isn’t it great?”
People would compliment him, and he’d soak it all in, looking smug. Every time I saw him, he’d give me a little smirk, like he knew he had won.
“Great job, Jenkins,” Mr. Thompson said one day. “Where did you get that paint?”
“Oh, just a lucky mistake,” Jenkins replied, winking. “Saved a bundle on it.”
An arrogant man talks to his elderly neighbor | Source: Midjourney
But then, karma struck. One afternoon, I noticed Mr. Jenkins outside, looking frustrated. He was on the phone, talking to someone.
“This paint is peeling off the walls!” he yelled. “I need someone to come and fix it.”
Turns out, he hadn’t prepped the walls properly before painting. Our high-quality paint was starting to peel, and it looked awful. His pride and joy were turning into a disaster.
A few days later, I overheard him talking to another neighbor, Mrs. Green.
Paint peeling off the walls | Source: Midjourney
“I can’t believe this,” he said, shaking his head. “I have to repaint the whole living room.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Mrs. Green replied. “Didn’t you use that fancy paint?”
“Yes, but it started peeling,” he admitted. “And now the price has doubled. It’s going to cost me a fortune to redo it.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Karma was finally catching up with him. Mr. Jenkins had to order more paint, and the price had indeed doubled since our initial purchase. What was once a good deal for him had become a costly mistake.
Paint chipping off | Source: Midjourney
And it didn’t stop there. Because he had messed up the first time, he decided to hire a professional to redo the job. He didn’t trust himself with another DIY project, not after what happened.
“Hi, I’m here to repaint your living room,” the painter said when he arrived.
“Yes, come in,” Mr. Jenkins replied, looking defeated. “Just make sure it doesn’t peel this time.”
The neighborhood was buzzing with talk about Mr. Jenkins’ misfortune. No one felt sorry for him. In fact, most people thought he got what he deserved.
Neighbors gossiping | Source: Pexels
“Did you hear about Jenkins?” one neighbor asked another. “He had to hire a professional to fix his mess.”
“Serves him right,” the other replied. “He shouldn’t have taken that paint in the first place.”
Watching Mr. Jenkins deal with the fallout of his own actions was the perfect dose of karma. I never got my paint back, but seeing him pay for his deceitful actions was satisfying enough.
A satisfied smiling man | Source: Midjourney
From then on, whenever I saw him, I’d give him a knowing smile. It was a silent reminder that sometimes, you really do reap what you sow. And as for Mr. Jenkins? Let’s just say he’s keeping a much lower profile these days.
We Came Home after Our Kid’s Treatment to Find Our House Destroyed by My In-Laws and Neighbors
Hazel never imagines returning home from the hospital to find her life turned upside down. After a week of anxiously waiting for their daughter’s treatment results, she and her husband Ethan are finally heading back, hopeful for a brighter future. But as they pull into their driveway, their hearts sink. What happened?
We are a typical American family with three beautiful kids: Lily, Max, and Emma. When we started our family, everything felt perfect. Our home echoed with love and laughter, and those early days were simply wonderful.
A family walking in the fields | Source: Unsplash
But then, Lily fell ill. She was our youngest, and her sickness shattered our lives. We poured all our money into her treatment, desperate to see her well again.
We sold nearly everything — appliances, furniture — anything to cover the mounting costs.
A sad woman counting money | Source: Pexels
I still remember the day my baby girl was born. She was our little sunshine, always smiling and giggling. Max and Emma adored their baby sister, and with her, our family felt complete. Our home was cozy, not big, but it was ours, and it was filled with love.
But as I looked around our nearly empty living room now, my heart sank. The couch was gone, the TV sold, and our dining table had been replaced by a small, makeshift one.
Want to know what happened next? Click here to find out.
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.
