It's wrong to make excuses for bad behavior.
Ernie cleans out his garage and piles trash in his backyard, which he sets on fire causing a terrible smell throughout his neighborhood, and his neighbors come to his door.
Eric needs to talk to his neighbors about the smelly trash fire.
Eric admits to creating an environmental nuisance and apologizes to his neighbors, promising to never do that again.
Eric explains that he only meant to burn the wood, and that the tires, plastic and carpets were burned by mistake.
Eric's neighbors accept his apology and some of them help him put out the terrible smelling fire that he started.
Eric's neighbors don't believe him because it is all in one big pile and Eric loses some of his standing as a good member of the community.