When my 12-year-old son Ben took our wealthy neighbor’s offer to shovel snow for $10 a day, he was eager to buy gifts for the family. But when the man refused to pay, calling it a “lesson about contracts,” Ben was heartbroken. That’s when I decided to teach him a lesson he’d never forget.

Ben had always been hardworking and big-hearted. He planned to buy his mom a scarf, his sister Annie a dollhouse, and save for a telescope. Every day before school, he shoveled snow for Mr. Dickinson, excited about his earnings. But one cold morning, just before Christmas, Ben came home devastated.

“Mr. Dickinson said he’s not paying me,” he said, tears streaming down his face. “He said it’s a lesson about contracts.”

Furious, I marched over to Dickinson’s house. When he refused to pay, I smiled sweetly and said, “Enjoy your evening.” The next morning, my husband and I, along with Ben and Annie, set out to “right the wrong.” We shoveled snow from our driveway and piled it onto Dickinson’s. By mid-morning, his driveway was buried under a mountain of snow.

Dickinson stormed over, furious. “What have you done to my driveway?”

I calmly explained, “It’s called quantum meruit. You didn’t pay Ben, so we undid his work. Fair’s fair, right?”

He sputtered in anger but quickly realized he’d lost. That evening, he returned with $80 for Ben, apologizing. Ben’s smile was priceless, and I hugged him, telling him, “Thank you for showing me what real determination looks like.”