Martha, the owner of the quaint "Fresh Harvest" bakery, was notorious for shortchanging her suppliers. A penny here, a pound there, it all went into her hefty pockets. Old Man Hernandez, the vegetable vendor with his weathered hands and sun-kissed face, was her favorite target. He was kind to a fault, never complaining, always trusting.
One Tuesday, Martha shorted Hernandez ten dollars on his usual bill. He pointed it out gently, but Martha, with a sneer, dismissed him as forgetful. Shame burned in Hernandez's eyes, but he left without a fight.
Later that day, a freak gust of wind ripped through the market, sending a stray umbrella flying. It lodged itself, prongs first, into Martha's prized display case, shattering the expensive glass and ruining a batch of her best-selling cupcakes. Customers gasped, and Martha, pale with fury, stormed out back to find the culprit.
There, struggling with his overturned cart, was Hernandez. Wind had scattered his vegetables across the alley. Martha, ready to unleash a tirade, stopped short. Shame, hot and prickly, filled her mouth. Here was the man she'd wronged, facing a similar misfortune.
Instead of yelling, Martha helped Hernandez gather his produce. She apologized for accusing him earlier, her voice thick. Hernandez, ever gentle, just smiled sadly. Back at the bakery, Martha, with shaking hands, used her emergency fund to replace the glass. She also whipped up a fresh batch of cupcakes, using some of Hernandez's vegetables for a new recipe - "Farmer's Market Surprise."
To her surprise, they were a hit. The sweetness of the cupcakes seemed to balance the earthy goodness of the vegetables. Soon, "Fresh Harvest" was known not just for its pastries, but also for its fair treatment of vendors. Old Man Hernandez, with a twinkle in his eye, became a regular, his smile a constant reminder to Martha: what goes around, truly does come around.