Mr. Garrison owned a successful shoe store and had always emphasized treating customers with respect. His teenage son, Peter, didn’t share this value. When Peter insulted a poor boy whose grandmother was a janitor, Mr. Garrison decided to teach him a lesson.

The boy had come in to buy shoes with crumpled dollar bills from his grandmother. Peter mocked him and demanded he clean his shoes. Mr. Garrison intervened, furious. “Peter, you will clean the store tomorrow,” he declared, assigning Peter janitorial duties for a day.

Peter woke up before sunrise to clean the store, scrubbing toilets, mopping floors, and dusting over 12,000 shoe boxes. Exhausted, he saw how hard the staff worked and began to understand the effort behind the store’s success.

At the end of the day, Peter approached his father in tears. “Dad, I’m sorry. I was naive and rude. Our staff’s care sets us apart, and I’m ashamed of how I treated that boy.”

Mr. Garrison didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he called in the boy and his grandmother. Peter apologized sincerely. “I’m sorry for belittling you and your job. It takes a lot of skill and hard work.”

The boy forgave Peter and, with his grandmother’s nod, opened a neatly wrapped box Peter handed him. Inside was the pair of shoes he had dreamed of. His face lit up with happiness.

Peter learned the importance of respect and humility, realizing that everyone deserved kindness, regardless of their background. The lesson, though harsh, brought a valuable change in his heart.