Have you ever had a good intention, expressed that intention (after thinking it through for some time and believing you know how to say what you want to say without it coming across arrogant, offensive or rude) only for that intention to do exactly what you had hoped it would not do, muddy the waters even more than they were, like stirring up the muck in a shallow pond so you can no longer see the fish, the rocks, the seaweed and the bottom that once was clearly visible through the movement of the water current?

Well today I did that and it will all be alright, but just rather uncomfortable for a conversation or two until the other party believes and feels I meant no harm, malice nor had a hidden agenda.

violated

Recently I had the misfortune of having one of the workers that we were paying good money to fix some existing problems in my parents' home steal from me. At first it was a simple suspicion although my gut was telling me from moment one that the missing item (my new shaver) was not missing at all, it had been stolen. When the workers returned yesterday I asked in a very non confronting manor as to whether they had possibly moved the shaver to a safer place while they where working only to hear a no, which I expected, and when I told them where the razor was and that it no longer was there, one of the workers confessed that he had moved items in that area of the bathroom and it easily, by mistake of course, could have been accidentally disposed of and since he took out the garbage, this was the most logical scenario of my missing shaver.

Later, he looked at me and I looked back at him and guilt shown from his soul and he knew that I knew that he was guilty. I had been violated and a relationship destroyed to the point that further work was canceled as it was not worth the risk of having another item or items appear missing down the line.

He offered to pay for the shaver as a courtesy in feeling bad, which I refused as he knowing that I knew the truth was punishment enough. I will replace the shaver and the expense will be high as it was not cheap and had only been used a total of three times. However, I feel better knowing that I got it on clearance at a below market value and although this fact comforts me, the mere fact that I was violated, serves no solice at all.

So as I made an executive decision and decided they did not need to paint and we would contact them at a later date, the brother, the super, knew the reason why and he is going through financial hardships right now and his brother, his assistant, is only dampening what already must be difficult when you know what a loved one has done and yet you so do not want to believe that he would steal, but steal at your expense and that of your struggling business.