MODERN FABLES, Kind, Ch. 23, Doing What Comes Naturally

                                 CHAPTER 23: DOING WHAT COMES NATURALLY

"Tim, how did the game go?" Rick asked his brother, talking about the church-league basketball game Tim had played in earlier that Saturday afternoon. Rick had refereed a fourth-and-fifth-grader game earlier, but hadn't done the one his brother played in.

"We lost by a point."

"That's too bad. Still, it was a close game, not a wipeout. How did you do?"

"Not good. I played okay, except I missed all four of my foul shots. If I'd made a couple, we would have won."

"That's a shame. The neat thing about foul shots is that you can become pretty good just with practice, and nobody can block your shot. You figure to shoot a few in most league games with a ref."

"Yup."

"Shall I show you what I was taught? I'm not as good as Tess, but I know how to do it."

"Okay."

They got their ball and went to the small paved area with the basketball hoop that their dad had set up behind the house. The foul line was marked with a foot-long white stripe. Rick took the ball and shot about ten foul shots, making more than he missed, but not by much.

"Tim, I'm only so-so at these, but I know what I'm supposed to do. Put my feet an inch behind the line. Bounce the ball the same number of times every time—I do it three times. Take a deep breath. Bend my knees. Support the ball with my left hand. Keep my right arm tucked in, elbow pointing straight down. Exhale slowly. Unbend my knees while pushing the ball toward the hoop with my fingers, not my palm. Like this." Fortunately for Rick, this one went in.

"That's a lot to remember."

"Yes, and you've got to do the same set of things over and over, so it becomes like a habit. Our coach called it 'muscle memory.' Try it a few times."

Tim worked with Rick for a dozen or so shots, making a few.

"I'm tired."

"Sure. That's enough for now, Tim. You did make a few, and I think you'll continue to improve. As you grow, you'll get stronger, and that will make it easier, too."

"Yup."

Rick also served as an assistant coach for Tim's after-school soccer team. Tim was easily the best player on the team, and this seemed like a good time to remind him of it.

"You and I and Tess all like to play basketball, but it's not my best sport, and it may not be yours either. You're the best player on the soccer team—better than either Tess or I was at your age. You may decide to focus more on your soccer skills when you get older. Some things just come more naturally to each of us than others."

As time went on, Tim did become better at shooting free throws, though he never became particularly good.

Tim continued to excel at soccer, though, and eventually became the star and captain of his high school team. He took advantage of his soccer-playing abilities, doing what came naturally.

https://youtu.be/t2u4q00ZvE0

MODERN FABLES, Courteous, Ch. 22, Timing is Everything!

 CHAPTER 22: TIMING IS ALMOST EVERYTHING

Rick, Tess, and Tim Williams each had a problem. They all had the same problem: each wanted a raise in allowance. Weekly, they got different amounts—Rick, the most; Tess, less; Tim, the least.

Should they ask their father one by one or go as a group?

If they went singly, would the first kid have the easiest or the hardest time? What about whoever asked last?

They put the question to their mother, who had an old saying to apply: "Let sleeping dogs lie…your dad is not a dog, but he is napping on the couch. This is not the time to bother him."

They waited.

Once Dad arose, they checked with Mom again.

"Now?" asked Tim.

"Wait until your father has had supper. Don't put the cart before the horse."

"What?" inquired Tess.

Rick explained, "Mom means some things should be done in a certain order, like making sure Dad isn't hungry before you ask him for a favor."

Supper came and went, including dessert and coffee for Dad. He looked mellow.

"Now?" Tim asked his mother.

"Make hay while the sun shines. Strike while the iron is hot."

"She means yes, now," Tess said.

They all sat down with Mr. W. at the dining table. Tess almost sat on her dad's lap, then decided she was a bit too big and that it was a bit too pushy. She did kiss him before she sat down.

"You ask, Rick," Tim urged.

"Dad, we'd like our allowances raised."

"Am I going to get something in return?"

"More hugs?" suggested Tess.

"Nice try, young lady, but I was thinking in terms of chores."

"I'll wash the van once a month, except in the winter," offered Rick.

"Sounds good. How much of a raise do you want?" Rick and his dad discussed money for a minute or two and quickly agreed.

"Is the sun still shining, Dad?" Tess asked, thinking of making hay…getting more allowance.

"Brightly. What's your offer, Tess? What new chore will you pick up?"

"I'll make breakfast for all of us each Saturday morning."

A brief discussion followed, and Tess received her raise.

"Tim, my good lad, you're the last. I would say that I'm almost broke, but you know that isn't true. You'll get some more money, too, but what will you do for it?"

"What should I do, Dad?"

"Why don't you do the dishes after the breakfast Tess is making every Saturday?"

"OK."

And so the allowances were raised for everyone…except Mrs. Williams, who didn't actually get an allowance, but who did have a household budget limit…one she wanted increased.

Tess hugged her father and commented, "Haven't you forgotten someone?"

"Who?"

"Mom."

"Honey, did you want a raise, too?" he asked his wife.

"I thought you would never ask. Yes," she responded.

"What are you going to do extra?"

"We'll talk about that later."

Mr. Williams had recently gotten a raise at his job, so he didn't really mind all of this. The requests had come at a good time…and timing, he thought to himself, is almost everything.

 

 

 Moral: Knowing when is almost as important as knowing how. 

MODERN FABLES, Courteous, Ch. 21, Recital

 CHAPTER 21: RECITAL

"Are you nervous?" Tess asked her friend May Lee shortly before May's piano recital at the local music school.

"Not really. I've practiced this piece many, many times."

"Where's your sheet music?"

"We can't use it. We have to know it by heart."

Tess Williams and her mother had come to this little recital that Wednesday evening mostly to hear May play. There were a dozen students in the program, ranging from first grade to twelfth.

The audience consisted of parents, brothers and sisters, and friends. The youngest students would play for a few minutes or less, with sheet music. The older ones were to play longer, more difficult pieces without sheet music.

"Mom, what's this 'Etude by Chopin'?" Tess asked. This is what May was scheduled to play.

"It's pronounced 'AY-tude by SHOW-pan.' 'Etude' is French for 'Study,' and Frederic Chopin was a famous composer of classical piano pieces. I think you'll like it. I hope so."

The children played, with the audience applauding after each piece. The pieces got more difficult as the program went on. May seemed to play perfectly, as did most of the others.

After the recital, there were refreshments: juice and cookies for the kids, and coffee or tea for the adults. May and her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Lee, came over to talk with Tess and Mrs. Williams.

"You were wonderful," Mrs. W. told May.

"Thank you. Almost perfect. One C that should have been C-sharp."

"It sounded perfect to us," Tess said.

"How long has May been studying piano?" Mrs. Williams asked her parents.

"Six years, since first grade, and she'll continue through twelfth grade," Mrs. Lee replied with pride. She could have added that Asian-American parents often strongly encourage their children to study a musical instrument, such as the violin or the piano.

The piano teacher, Mrs. Gilbert, came over to the group. "I hope you enjoyed the recital. I was pleased with the performances."

Dr. Lee commented, "We thought May did beautifully, and we appreciate your very skilled teaching."

Mrs. Gilbert responded, "I understand that her mother is a very good pianist, too."

Mrs. Lee blushed. "You're too generous."

Tess's mother added, "They say, 'like father, like son,' but here I'd say, 'like mother, like daughter.'"

May didn't want a big fuss made over her. She mentioned again that she hadn't played quite perfectly.

"Some say 'practice makes perfect,'" Mrs. Gilbert said, "but we say, 'perfect practice makes perfect.' May is an excellent student."

Mrs. Williams smiled at May Lee and her parents and her teacher. "We think May is terrific. You must be doing something right!"

---

May Lee continued studying piano through high school. Six years after that first recital Tess attended, May performed with a community orchestra soon after she graduated. That night, Tess asked May the same question she'd asked six years before: "Are you nervous?"

"Very!" May replied. Despite that, she played beautifully and received a standing ovation at the end. She had risen to the challenge.

 Moral: Class tells. Modesty is courtesy. 

MODERN FABLES, Courteous, Ch. 20, "On Time or Else"

                                           CHAPTER 20: ON TIME OR ELSE

"Rick, what's the matter?" Tess asked at dinner that night.

"Oh, nothing."

"Sure, there is," his dad commented. "You've been glum since I got home."

His mother put her hand on his shoulder. "What's bothering you?"

"I got a letter saying I won't be considered for Trailblazers' Camp counselor this summer because I sent my application two days late. It doesn't seem fair."

His dad looked up from his meal. "Why don't you think it was fair?"

"I was only two days late. How much difference can that make?"

Tess wanted to know why he was late at all.

"They required an essay, and it took longer than I planned to get it just right."

This sparked a conversation that lasted quite a while. His dad told Rick about missing out on a college scholarship because he sent his application a day or two late, and how it taught him a lesson he never forgot. Mrs. Williams commented that she had to be at school before classes started each day, and that deadlines were important. She said she was strict about deducting points for late papers in her classes.

Tess thought the camp was being too strict, but both parents agreed that deadlines are needed and that it's unfair to let others send their applications late without penalty, even though they mailed theirs on time.

Mr. Williams added, "The other thing about this is that you either didn't give yourself enough time, or you fussed over the essay too much. While it's good to do careful work, nothing is ever quite perfect, and sometimes close enough is good enough."

Mrs. Williams offered to help Rick with the next essay he needed to write, but Rick said he didn't want someone else to do what he was responsible for, although he'd appreciate it if she read it over once he was done to help him catch any errors.

By this time, Tess and Tim felt left out of the conversation and headed into the living room to watch television. They were sorry to discover that the long dinner conversation meant they'd arrived late for their favorite program. Tess and Tim both agreed that next time, "On time…or else!"

Moral: Don't waste other people's time by being late yourself. 

MODERN FABLES, Courtesy, Ch. 19, Don"t Cut Off Your Nose

 

CHAPTER 19: DON’T CUT OFF YOUR NOSE

 

"What's the matter, dear?" Mr. Williams asked his wife at dinner that evening.

"Oh, nothing."

"Sure, there is. I can tell."

"Well…I wrote an article for that teachers' magazine, and they're not going to print it."

"Why not?"

"Said it was too serious."

"Was it?"

"I didn't think so."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll write them and tell them I don't agree."

"If you want them to print the next thing you send, you'll need to be very courteous."

"I know. I won't 'burn my bridges' with them, although I may never send them another one."

"What does 'burning your bridges' mean, Mom?" Tess asked.

"Long ago, bridges were made of wood rather than steel and concrete. When an army crossed into enemy territory, they sometimes left guards at the bridges to prevent the enemy from using them. Other times, they burned bridges so they couldn't be used again. But that meant they couldn't use them either if they had to retreat."

"So, with people, it means don't make them into enemies, because you may need their help later," Tess replied.

"Exactly," her mother said. "Still, I'm angry they didn't print this. I think I won't send them anything more."

"Who will you hurt more that way, them or you?" Rick asked.

"Good question, Rick," Mr. W. said. "Your mother may wish she could still write for them. It could be a case of 'cutting off your nose to spite your face.'"

"What?" asked Tim.

"Sounds painful!" Tess added.

"Dad means that sometimes when we try to hurt someone else, we hurt ourselves more instead," Mrs. W. explained.

"Shouldn't Mom stick up for herself?" Rick asked his father.

"Sure. Mom can write a polite letter or give them a call, keeping in mind that 'a soft answer turns away wrath.' Speaking gently often keeps others from getting angry."

Mrs. Williams decided to heed both "silence is golden" and "turn the other cheek." She made her next article a little less serious, and it was printed. The magazine was pleased, and so was she. She had succeeded…and she had not cut off her nose to spite her face.

https://youtu.be/GZC3q_jAomk

MODERN FABLES, Courteous, Ch. 18, "Are You Gonna Wear That?"

 CHAPTER 18: “ARE YOU GONNA WEAR THAT?”

Nearly ready to go to Jane's house that Saturday afternoon, Tess came downstairs, where her brother Rick looked at her a little strangely.

"You gonna wear that to Jane's house?"

"Yes."

"No, she's not," her mother said, pointing to the holes in Tess's blue jeans. "Not in those pants."

"But, Mom…."

"No 'buts' about it, Tess. You can look like a ragamuffin playing football or basketball outside, but I won't have you going to your friend's house looking like a bum."

"But, Mom…."

"People judge you partly by how you look, how you dress. Daddy wears a uniform at work to show he's an EMT with the Fire Department. I dress up to teach at school. When you go to someone's home, it shows respect not to look sloppy."

"But, Mom…."

"Don't you brush your hair before you go out?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Tess thought for only a few seconds. "I don't want to look messy."

"Right. The same goes for how you dress. It should fit the occasion. People treat well-dressed people better, and dressing appropriately is part of that. When you get married, you'll probably be telling your husband how to dress, and you'll probably want to dress so he thinks you look good, too."

"Oh, Mom…."

The tempest in a teapot blew over. Tess put on a better pair of jeans, went to her girlfriend's house, and returned home shortly before dinner. That evening, Tess, Rick, and Tim were eating alone, because their parents were going to a Fire Department banquet.

Mrs. Williams looked very pretty in her dress for the evening, Tess had to admit.

Mr. Williams came downstairs in slacks, a blazer, a striped tie, and a plaid shirt.

Mother and daughter looked at each other, aghast at the clash between the stripes and plaid, and said together,

"You gonna wear that?"

Moral: Friends don't let friends look foolish. 

MODERN FABLES, Helpful, Ch. 17, Tickled Pink

                                                CHAPTER 17: TICKLED PINK

"When the cat's away, the mice will play." So goes an old saying. In this case, the cat was Mrs. Williams, out of town for three days at a teachers' conference. The mice were Tess, May, and Emma, and they were going to paint Tess's bedroom pink. Pizza and sodas were also involved in the plan.

"Dad, can I paint my room?" Tess asked her father.

"Why?"

"It's boring!"

"A room can be boring?"

"Mine is."

"Who will buy the paint?"

"I will, with my allowance."

"Will you have help?"

"Yes, May and Emma will come."

"Why will they help?"

"They're good friends…and we'll have pizza."

"We should ask your mother, but she's not here. I guess it's okay."

Where Mr. Williams fell short was in not asking what color the room was going to become. He should have stopped reading his newspaper and asked that important question.

When Mrs. W. called home that night, her husband forgot to mention the painting party. He did ask her how the meetings were going and listened more than he talked. When the phone call ended, he felt he should have told her, but they'd be talking the next evening.

The next day, there was no school. Emma and May showed up dressed in old clothes, ready to paint. First, everything had to be moved out of Tess's room. With help from Rick and Tim, the crew got the furniture out and spread newspapers on the floor. Then the girls took over.

Midway through the project, they took a pizza-and-soda break. After that, Rick and Tim looked in on the partly painted room. "Pink?" Rick asked.

"Pink!" Tess replied.

"Oh," said Tim, who preferred red or blue or even white.

Rick thought they were doing a good job so far. "Well begun is half done," he said, happy to have a chance to quote an old saying.

The girls finished up, opened the windows, and closed the door to air out the room. Tess slept on the living room couch that evening.

Mrs. Williams called that night, too. After she told her husband what had happened at the meeting, Mr. W. mentioned the painting project.

"What color is it?" she asked.

"Pink."

"What kind of pink? Dark pink, hot pink, pastel pink?"

"I don't know. Pink pink."

"Are there any stripes or polka dots?"

"No."

"So it could have been worse."

The next day, Tess, Rick, and Tim moved Tess's stuff back into her room, shortly before their mother returned.

"Close your eyes, Mom," Tess said, having closed the door to her bedroom. After her mother closed her eyes, Tess opened the door.

"Ta da! Open your eyes," Tess said.

Mrs. W. opened them. "Not a bad color. Better than I feared. Quite good, in fact. Goes well with the curtains. I like it. I really do. Congratulations!"

You could say Mom was "tickled pink."

When told of his wife's approval, Mr. Williams sighed a contented sigh and returned to reading the newspaper. Was he tickled pink, too? Hard to tell.

 

 Moral: There is no disputing taste, or its absence, but help is almost always appreciated.