“I’ve Grown Attached to the Key”: How One Man’s Petty Revenge Was the Perfect Payback
There’s something uniquely satisfying about a little bit of petty revenge—the kind that’s clever enough to make you smirk, harmless enough to keep your conscience clean, and just personal enough to make the universe feel balanced. Recently, I stumbled across a gem of a story on Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge that checked every one of those boxes. Picture a shiny new car, a set of coveted floor mats, and a spare key that ended up being the linchpin in a hilarious tale of comeuppance.
If you’ve ever lost something to a smug stranger and wished you could have the last word, buckle up—this story is for you.
Let’s set the scene: Our protagonist, u/labrador_1, wasn’t a car enthusiast, but he did what most of us dream of—bought a brand-new car, the kind with zero miles on the odometer and that intoxicating “new car smell.” He invested in some after-market mats and seat covers, then set out with his wife for a country drive, CDs in tow, ready to break in his latest prized possession.
But fate, as it often does, had other plans. A mysterious object in the road shredded the tire, sent the car spinning, and left our hero shaken—but physically unharmed. The car, however, wasn’t so lucky. It was towed away, and the insurance company quickly declared it a write-off.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. While the insurance payout smoothed things over, our protagonist realized his mats, seat covers, and CDs—purchased separately from the car—were still inside the wreck. He called the insurance agent, hoping to rescue his belongings. Unfortunately, the car had already been sold, and the new owner, apparently channeling the spirit of a cartoon villain, declared he’d “grown attached” to those items and refused to return them.
Talk about adding insult to injury. Most of us, in this situation, would seethe in silence and move on, resigned to the pettiness of strangers. But u/labrador_1 bided his time.
A few weeks later, poetic justice appeared in the form of a phone call. The new owner, now in possession of the totaled-but-repaired car, needed the expensive, hard-to-replace transponder spare key. He reached out through the agent, hoping our protagonist would be generous.
And this is where the story serves up its sweet, petty twist.
With a smile, u/labrador_1 informed the agent that he, too, had “grown attached” to the key. The agent laughed. The new owner, presumably, was left to stew in the irony. And our protagonist? He chucked the key into the rubbish, secure in the knowledge that sometimes, karma just needs a little nudge.
Why this story hits so right
At its heart, this is a tale about boundaries and fairness. The new owner had every right to keep the mats and CDs—they were in the car when he bought it. But his smug, possessive attitude (“I’ve grown attached!”) was just salt in the wound. When the tables turned, u/labrador_1 didn’t escalate with anger or confrontation. Instead, he mirrored the new owner’s words, delivering a gentle, witty blow that landed with satisfying precision.
There’s a lesson here: sometimes, the best way to handle life’s small injustices isn’t with outrage, but with a clever comeback and a dash of patience. Petty revenge, when served with a smile, is rarely about causing harm—it’s about reclaiming a little dignity and sharing a laugh with those who get it (in this case, the insurance agent, who was clearly on Team Protagonist).
What would you do?
Stories like these strike a universal chord because we’ve all been there—faced with someone who could do the right thing but chooses not to, just because they can. How do you respond? Do you let it go, or do you wait for the sweet opportunity to level the playing field?
And let’s be honest: who among us wouldn’t feel a tiny surge of triumph while tossing that spare key into the bin, knowing the smug new owner would have to shell out for a replacement?
So, next time you find yourself wronged in a small but annoying way, remember this story. Sometimes, the universe gives you the perfect setup for a harmless, hilarious little act of petty revenge. When it does, don’t be afraid to “grow attached” to the moment.
What’s your favorite story of petty revenge? Drop it in the comments—or tell us how you’d handle a situation like this!
Original Reddit Post: I'm quite attached to it