A wise old gentleman retired and..

A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a junior high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment. Then a new school year began. The very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashingpercussion continued day after day, until finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some action. The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street.

Stopping them, he said, “You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance like that. In fact, I used to dothe same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I’ll give you each a dollar if you’ll promise to come around everyday and do your thing.” The kids were elated and continued to doa bang-up job on the trashcans. After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. “This recession’s really putting a big dent in my income,” he told them. “From now on, I’ll only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans.” The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they accepted his offer and continued their afternoon ruckus. A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street. “Look,” he said, “I haven’t received my Social Security check yet, so I’m not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents. Will that be okay?” “A lousy quarter?” the drum leader exclaimed. “If you think we’re going to waste our time, beating these cans around for a quarter, you’re nuts! No way, mister. We quit!” And the old man enjoyed peace and serenity for the rest of his days.

Related Posts

What We Know About the Parents of Charlie Kirk’s Accused Killer, Tyler Robinson

When 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attention quickly shifted to his family. Once seen as everyday Utah parents, Matt and…

Grandma Kept Her Police Past a Secret—Until This Unfolded

We believed we understood everything about Grandma Esther. At 84, her mind remained razor-sharp, her passion for crossword puzzles unmatched, and her command of Thanksgiving dinner an…

My Late Husband’s Family Tried to Push Us Away — They Didn’t See This Coming

After Ryan’s sudden death, I was devastated. While grieving, I never imagined my mother-in-law, Margaret, would make everything worse. Two days after the funeral, I came home…

A Heartfelt Homecoming for Granddad and Penny

When I spotted my 86-year-old granddad perched on the porch, clutching a suitcase, trash bags, and a small, injured puppy in his arms, a wave of sorrow…

My glass stovetop is dirty and scratched. How can I fix it?

Glass stove tops, common in induction and ceramic cooktops, are valued for their sleek design and efficient heating. Induction models heat cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, making…

Unusual Snake Approached Me for Water—Animal Control’s Reaction Revealed a Surprising Truth

Jake’s serene afternoon by the lake transformed unexpectedly when a wild snake emerged and approached him in an odd way. At first, he believed the snake was…