Chuck Flannery pulled into his flower-lined driveway and threw the car into park just as his son, Shawn, slid his bike to a stop alongside.

“Dad, can I have my allowance for next week, today?”

Chuck turned to his watch and gave a stern look back to his boy and said, “This is Tuesday, not Friday!”

Again Shawn asked for an advance, just this once he begged. Chuck knew this was an opportunity to teach his young son a lesson on the virtues of saving. He seized the moment with gusto that would have made his friends on the debating team applaud.

“Son, you really have to spend your money more wisely. I work really hard and feel you deserve the five dollars on Fridays for the chores you do around here. I bet if you would ask old man Mendleson to let you mow his grass every so often you could count on that little bit money. Mrs. Bradley is always saying how nice a job you do on our hedges and moaning how hers just never quite look balanced when she is done. Again, there’s another little bit of cash staring you in the face.”

“And when you have a little money saved up don’t hurry out to spend it. You get $250 a year other than your birthday and Christmas. Just think what you could buy with some patience.

You have to really start thinking about other people. The whole world does not revolve around you and the things you want. You go right across Mr. Wienbergs walk stepping over his morning paper on your way to school. Maybe taking that newspaper up to his door wouldn’t be too hard? I see the Osmond girl has a cast on her arm and she still carries all those books to and from school. Didn’t see you offering to help her this week did I? And putting air in your sister’s bicycle tire is torture. I realize you don’t want to be seen pushing a pink bike with a basket but she isn’t old enough to cross Devlin Street to get to the Esso station is she?”

“ See Shawn, if you just put a little more thought towards others there would not be an issue with a little loan of say ten or maybe twenty dollars till Friday. Do you see what I’m trying to say here?”

Shawn nodded his head and said, “ So, can I have that five dollars today?”

Chuck’s face went blank,” Did I just talk to you or THAT bicycle you’re on? You have to start thinking of somebody beside yourself! Just what do you need five more dollars for today? Chuck continued rambling through a dream list of what boys think they need…. a new cheater slick…. a Ted Williams bat…. a sleeping bag…. rock “em sock “em robots…just then Shawn said, “ Tomorrow is Mom’s birthday!”

Chuck was still reciting his list…. Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle….N-gauge train set….WHAT DID YOU SAY? TOMORROW? I…I….WELL NOW..AHH..

Hurry up and put that bike away, we’ve got some shopping to do!