Ring! Ring!
“Hello.”
“Hi, it’s me.”
“Me who?”
“You know. Me. Number One.”
“Well, hello, Number One. I haven’t heard from you in a while. How are things going?”
“Pretty good, actually. I was having a little trouble with my Trig class, but I think I have the hang of it now. I got a ninety-four on my last test. I’m making good grades in my other classes. And I registered for the SATs like you suggested. My counselor said I could wait until next year, but I told her you said I should take it as many times as I could.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. Do you want to brag on or rat out your sisters?”
“Okay, Number Six, loves kindergarten. She’s excited that she’s actually going to school. Number Two, is doing great. She’s started back with gymnastics at a new place. She seems to really like it there. I think her new coach knows how to get the best out of her. And she’s making great grades, too. And guess what!”
“What?”
“She’s got a boyfriend. Look, that’s a secret; okay? She hasn’t told Mom and Dad, but I don’t think she’d mind if I told you. Besides, Mom got really mad once when you wouldn’t tell her what we talked about. So, I know you won’t tell her.”
“Do you like her boyfriend?”
“Yeah, I like him, but, you know, they’re thirteen. They can’t really date. But he’s a nice kid.”
“What about your boyfriend?”
“We’re doing great. He’s real nice. I know you’d like him. Know why?”
“Why?”
“Because he opens the car door for me. Remember when you told me to stand beside the door without opening it until my date opened the door for me? Well, I don’t have to stand there with him. He’s there opening it for me.”
“Good. That’s really nice. I’d like to meet him someday.”
“Maybe we can ride up there and go hiking at Cloudland Canyon sometime soon. I’ll ask him. But, there’s something I really need to talk to you about.”
“What’s that?”
“Okay, I hate to bring this up, but since you’ve been sending me an allowance every month, I’ve kinda gotten used to it. You know, I have been sorta making a budget in my mind, and I probably have gotten dependent on it.”
“And you want to remind me that you didn’t get your allowance for this month.”
“Well, yes, that’s what I wanted to talk about.”
“Do you remember the conditions for you getting the allowance?”
“I do, I’m supposed to save some, to give some away, and to know at the end of the month where every dollar went.”
“That’s right. Can you do that for last month?”
“Yes, I can.”
“How do I know that?”
“Oh, I didn’t send you a report on my spending and saving like I was supposed to.”
“You didn’t.”
“That means I don’t get an allowance this month because I didn’t send the report? You know, Mom told me that you were going to say this. She said that when you made up your mind you were strict. I guess you are. So, I’m sorry I didn’t sent my report. I guess my sister did because she got her allowance.”
“She did.”
“You’re asking me to be more responsible that the United States Congress.”
“Oh, Number One, I would never set the bar that low for you.”
Love it! And what good life lessons you are teaching!
Posted by: mindy | October 01, 2013 at 07:21 AM