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.