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A LESSON LEARNT
Sandy looked up with a worried frown. He searched his pocket, pulled out a few coins and
disgustingly pushed them back again. Within two weeks he had finished his pocket money yet again.
His father’s warning echoed, “This time you will not get additional money.” Sandy was never happy
with his monthly allowance. His parents took care of all his needs, and gave him a fixed amount for
eating out buying cassettes, ice cream and soda at the school canteen, but Sandy was always cribbing
for more.
“You don’t give me enough money to spend, see that meagre amount got over in just 17 days
and believe me Dad I did not go overboard”.
“But son, why do you eat out every day? Try relishing the nutritious lunch your mother packs
for you.”
“Don’t be a miser dad; a burger costs just 10 rupees.”
“And what about that soft drink, another 10 rupees? Your pocket money is over by the 15 th of
every month and ...”
Sandy left the room in a huff, banging the door behind him.
Mr. Kapoor, his father, was shocked at his son’s unruly behavior. He turned to his wife with
disbelief. "Sudha, did I say something nasty to Sandy, why did he behave like that?”
“I think his pocket money is enough, it is just that he is careless and extravagant. He needs to
understand the value of money.”
“Oh Sudha, I hope you don’t have a sermon in mind, you saw the way he reacted.”
“No nothing conventional, I’ll wait for him to cool off and then discuss my plan in the evening.”
Sudha always got her way with us but this time I had my misgivings. In the evening she breezed
into the living room and announced that we ought to go out for dinner.
Sandy’s gloomy face immediately brightened and within minutes we were heading towards
the club.
A plan was devised for Sandy and he was to work for the extra money he demanded every
month. Sudha explained, “You will have to help out in daily chores in order to gain points and for every
ten points, you will get rupees fifty besides your regular pocket money and you can do anything with
your earnings.
Sandy quickly exclaimed, “The American way? I don’t mind Mom, Its cool, Tell me more.”
“On weekends, you wash the car both inside out and get ten points which means fifty bucks
straightaway.”
Sandy started calculating, “A Pepsi, burger and French fries-I don’t mind at all.”
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