MODERN FABLES, Helpful, Ch. 10, Moving Day

 CHAPTER 10: MOVING DAY

 

The school year had just ended. Rick and Tess reached the home of their friends, Brian and Alice, early that sad Saturday morning, 7 a.m., in fact. The mother of Brian and Alice, Mrs. Gladstone, had gotten a better job in a city far away, and the three of them were moving, with the help of friends. Using a moving company was too expensive for them. Their father had died earlier in the year, and money was scarce.

 

There were several heavy items; Rick and Brian moved them out of the apartment and onto the rented van. Mostly, boxes and boxes of “stuff” needed to be brought out and put in the van. Moving out took longer than expected because a couple of people who said they would help didn't show up. The Gladstones thanked Rick and Tess warmly, and finally drove away. Although each hoped to keep in touch by email, telephone, and letters, each knew that distant friendships are hard to maintain.

 

On their way home, Rick and Tess talked about their friends and how sorry they were to see them go. Something else troubled them.

 

“Rick, why didn’t the other people who said they’d help come?”

 

“People often offer what they fail to deliver. Sometimes, something comes up and they can’t. Other times, they do not plan to live up to their promises.”

 

Tess commented, “Maybe they find it too sad to come when someone is leaving.”

 

“That could be. Also, helpers would be doing a favor for people who were unlikely to be able to return it.”

 

“How about ‘pay it forward,’ Rick?”

 

“Nice idea…doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, the scriptural Golden Rule. You can think doing good deeds is a good idea, but you don't want to make the effort when the time comes, and they are needed.”

 

“If we moved, do you think we would get help?”

 

“Probably, although Mom and Dad would likely just hire a moving company. The people Mom and Dad have helped in the past might well show up or help in other ways. The Gladstones were fairly new here and had not made that many friends yet.”

 

“I hope their mom’s new job works out.”

 

“Right. If it doesn’t, the Gladstones will be in a new place, without friends and without a job. They will have ‘jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.’ I hope that doesn’t happen.”

 

The Williams pair made it home for a late lunch. Their mother asked how it went.

 

“Fine, Mom, but some people who said they’d help didn’t,” Tess replied.

 

“That’s too bad. You learn who your true friends are when you ask for something. Some people will promise you the world, but not deliver. An old saying is, ‘Actions speak louder than words.’”

 

That Saturday left Rick and Tess a little sadder and a lot wiser.

 

 CHAPTER 10: MOVING DAY

 

The school year had just ended. Rick and Tess reached the home of their friends, Brian and Alice, early that sad Saturday morning, 7 a.m., in fact. The mother of Brian and Alice, Mrs. Gladstone, had gotten a better job in a city far away, and the three of them were moving, with the help of friends. Using a moving company was too expensive for them. Their father had died earlier in the year, and money was scarce.

 

There were several heavy items; Rick and Brian moved them out of the apartment and onto the rented van. Mostly, boxes and boxes of “stuff” needed to be brought out and put in the van. Moving out took longer than expected because a couple of people who said they would help didn't show up. The Gladstones thanked Rick and Tess warmly, and finally drove away. Although each hoped to keep in touch by email, telephone, and letters, each knew that distant friendships are hard to maintain.

 

On their way home, Rick and Tess talked about their friends and how sorry they were to see them go. Something else troubled them.

 

“Rick, why didn’t the other people who said they’d help come?”

 

“People often offer what they fail to deliver. Sometimes, something comes up and they can’t. Other times, they do not plan to live up to their promises.”

 

Tess commented, “Maybe they find it too sad to come when someone is leaving.”

 

“That could be. Also, helpers would be doing a favor for people who were unlikely to be able to return it.”

 

“How about ‘pay it forward,’ Rick?”

 

“Nice idea…doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, the scriptural Golden Rule. You can think doing good deeds is a good idea, but you don't want to make the effort when the time comes, and they are needed.”

 

“If we moved, do you think we would get help?”

 

“Probably, although Mom and Dad would likely just hire a moving company. The people Mom and Dad have helped in the past might well show up or help in other ways. The Gladstones were fairly new here and had not made that many friends yet.”

 

“I hope their mom’s new job works out.”

 

“Right. If it doesn’t, the Gladstones will be in a new place, without friends and without a job. They will have ‘jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.’ I hope that doesn’t happen.”

 

The Williams pair made it home for a late lunch. Their mother asked how it went.

 

“Fine, Mom, but some people who said they’d help didn’t,” Tess replied.

 

“That’s too bad. You learn who your true friends are when you ask for something. Some people will promise you the world, but not deliver. An old saying is, ‘Actions speak louder than words.’”

 

That Saturday left Rick and Tess a little sadder and a lot wiser.

 

 CHAPTER 10: MOVING DAY

 

The school year had just ended. Rick and Tess reached the home of their friends, Brian and Alice, early that sad Saturday morning, 7 a.m., in fact. The mother of Brian and Alice, Mrs. Gladstone, had gotten a better job in a city far away, and the three of them were moving, with the help of friends. Using a moving company was too expensive for them. Their father had died earlier in the year, and money was scarce.

 

There were several heavy items; Rick and Brian moved them out of the apartment and onto the rented van. Mostly, boxes and boxes of “stuff” needed to be brought out and put in the van. Moving out took longer than expected because a couple of people who said they would help didn't show up. The Gladstones thanked Rick and Tess warmly, and finally drove away. Although each hoped to keep in touch by email, telephone, and letters, each knew that distant friendships are hard to maintain.

 

On their way home, Rick and Tess talked about their friends and how sorry they were to see them go. Something else troubled them.

 

“Rick, why didn’t the other people who said they’d help come?”

 

“People often offer what they fail to deliver. Sometimes, something comes up and they can’t. Other times, they do not plan to live up to their promises.”

 

Tess commented, “Maybe they find it too sad to come when someone is leaving.”

 

“That could be. Also, helpers would be doing a favor for people who were unlikely to be able to return it.”

 

“How about ‘pay it forward,’ Rick?”

 

“Nice idea…doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, the scriptural Golden Rule. You can think doing good deeds is a good idea, but you don't want to make the effort when the time comes, and they are needed.”

 

“If we moved, do you think we would get help?”

 

“Probably, although Mom and Dad would likely just hire a moving company. The people Mom and Dad have helped in the past might well show up or help in other ways. The Gladstones were fairly new here and had not made that many friends yet.”

 

“I hope their mom’s new job works out.”

 

“Right. If it doesn’t, the Gladstones will be in a new place, without friends and without a job. They will have ‘jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.’ I hope that doesn’t happen.”

 

The Williams pair made it home for a late lunch. Their mother asked how it went.

 

“Fine, Mom, but some people who said they’d help didn’t,” Tess replied.

 

“That’s too bad. You learn who your true friends are when you ask for something. Some people will promise you the world, but not deliver. An old saying is, ‘Actions speak louder than words.’”

 

That Saturday left Rick and Tess a little sadder and a lot wiser.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 10: MOVING DAY

 

The school year had just ended. Rick and Tess reached the home of their friends, Brian and Alice, early that sad Saturday morning, 7 a.m., in fact. The mother of Brian and Alice, Mrs. Gladstone, had gotten a better job in a city far away, and the three of them were moving, with the help of friends. Using a moving company was too expensive for them. Their father had died earlier in the year, and money was scarce.

 

There were several heavy items; Rick and Brian moved them out of the apartment and onto the rented van. Mostly, boxes and boxes of “stuff” needed to be brought out and put in the van. Moving out took longer than expected because a couple of people who said they would help didn't show up. The Gladstones thanked Rick and Tess warmly, and finally drove away. Although each hoped to keep in touch by email, telephone, and letters, each knew that distant friendships are hard to maintain.

 

On their way home, Rick and Tess talked about their friends and how sorry they were to see them go. Something else troubled them.

 

“Rick, why didn’t the other people who said they’d help come?”

 

“People often offer what they fail to deliver. Sometimes, something comes up and they can’t. Other times, they do not plan to live up to their promises.”

 

Tess commented, “Maybe they find it too sad to come when someone is leaving.”

 

“That could be. Also, helpers would be doing a favor for people who were unlikely to be able to return it.”

 

“How about ‘pay it forward,’ Rick?”

 

“Nice idea…doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, the scriptural Golden Rule. You can think doing good deeds is a good idea, but you don't want to make the effort when the time comes, and they are needed.”

 

“If we moved, do you think we would get help?”

 

“Probably, although Mom and Dad would likely just hire a moving company. The people Mom and Dad have helped in the past might well show up or help in other ways. The Gladstones were fairly new here and had not made that many friends yet.”

 

“I hope their mom’s new job works out.”

 

“Right. If it doesn’t, the Gladstones will be in a new place, without friends and without a job. They will have ‘jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.’ I hope that doesn’t happen.”

 

The Williams pair made it home for a late lunch. Their mother asked how it went.

 

“Fine, Mom, but some people who said they’d help didn’t,” Tess replied.

 

“That’s too bad. You learn who your true friends are when you ask for something. Some people will promise you the world, but not deliver. An old saying is, ‘Actions speak louder than words.’”

 

That Saturday left Rick and Tess a little sadder and a lot wiser.

 

 Moral: When you are in need, you learn who your true friends are.