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Butch Furse
Every now and then we come across some youngsters who are destined to do well when in their future they enter the business world. That was the case this past week when we had a couple of junior high-aged youngsters ring our doorbell.
The two asked if we could give them a pen. Of course we found it difficult to turn them away. They simply wanted a cheap old stick pen. I adjourned to the Betterhalf’s desk in the kitchen and brought them an old stick pen.
I asked, “What are you going to do with it?” I assumed they wanted to write to themselves a note before they journeyed on up the street.
“Well, we’re going to sell it,” one youngster replied.
I then jokenly said, “Wait a minute . . . if you’re going to sell it, then don’t you think you should pay me something for that pen?” One boy reached in his pocket and pulled out a penny. Then the other lad did the same thing and pulled out his penny. They continued to explain that it was a business game they were playing and maybe they could fetch more than a penny and make a profit from a future sale.
At first I felt these two youngsters bordered on working a scam, but also believed that once they received no profit from their endeavors, it would be a good lesson for them
A week later on Halloween eve these two youngsters visited our home seeking treats. I questioned them how the pen sales went, or as they termed their “business game.”
“It went pretty well,” the one boy said. “We made $11!”
I came back after talking to the boys when the Betterhalf asked what I was chuckling about. I told her and then said, “By the way, do we have any extra pens?”
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Johnny, 10 years old, applied for a job as a grocery boy for the summer. The grocer wanted a serious-minded youth, so he put Johnny to a little test. “Well, my boy, what would you do with a million dollars?” he asked.
“Oh, I don’t know – I wasn’t expecting so much to start,” Johnny said.
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The smile that lights the face, also warms the heart.
RL Furse is publisher emeritus of the News-Register
