Lesson from Grandpa

When I was just a young man, my grandfather taught me a lesson that I have never forgotten.

My grandfather hired me to mow his lawn one day. The pay, a bright shiny dime. Now to a young man that was a lot of money and would buy a bagful of candy.

The lawn was large. The day was hot and humid. Not a cloud in the sky to offer any relief from the sun. After an hour or two, I had only half the lawn mowed, which was great considering that I was using an old push mower.

You may remember the type, it worked by manual labor, no gas or electric engine. The blades spun around the faster you pushed it.

Well I was beat by then and ready to call it a day. I was wanting to get to the store and spend my dime.

"Grandpa, I'm done! I yelled entering the house, "Can we go to the store now?"

"Wash your face first sonny boy" he replied. "So you did all you are going to do then? he asked.

"Yes grandpa, I'm done."

So off to the store we went. Was I ever excited, picking out everything I liked.
"O k grandpa, I'm ready to pay, can I have my dime?

Reaching into his pocket, grandpa pulled a dull looking nickel out and handed it to me.

Frowning now I look up at my grandpa and say "Grandpa you said you would pay me a dime, but you only gave me a nickel."
Patting the top of my head and giving me a little smile he said "let this be a lesson for you."

To this day I have never forgotten what he said next and I quote him verbatim.
"Son when you promise to do a job and you do only half the job, you will only get half the pay." He then said "Son if a man pays you an dollar an hour, work for him as if he was paying you two dollars, if he pays you for forty hours, you give him fifty."

"Son do you now understand why you are only getting a nickel?"

With a tear in my eye, I looked up at him "Yes grandpa I do."

Walking back to the candy aisle, I put all the candy back and told grandpa that I was ready to go back and finish the job. The silent ride back to the house, gave me time to think long and hard. Without a word I pulled the old lawn mower out and went back to work.

Once the mowing was done and not wanting to face grandpa yet, I grabbed the rake and went back out to finish what I started.

What seemed to be hours later, the job was done. Silently entering the house, I went in and took a bath and changed my clothes.

"Grandpa, I'm done now. Grandpa, where are you? I called out.
"In the kitchen sonny boy, come on in here" he replied.
Walking into the kitchen, I saw grandpa sitting at the table which was sat two big glasses of lemonade, a plate of sandwiches and a brown paper bag.

"Sit down and eat sonny boy, you worked hard today and you need to eat."
After eating in silence, I looked up at grandpa with tears in my eyes again "Grandpa, I'm sorry about today."

"Sonny boy, no need to be sorry" he said as he stood up and turned his back to me. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled his handkerchief out and dabbed at his eyes.
"You made me very proud of you today" grandpa croaked out. "Sonny boy, you are going to be a great man, because you listen and learn."

Finally turning back to face me, I saw grandpas eyes were red and glistening.
Pushing the brown paper bag that was sitting on the table towards me he says "Here is your bonus" and pulling a quarter from his pocket "Here is your pay."

Oh yes, I still have that quarter.

My Inspiration: To be as great a man as my grandfather.

Thank you Grandpa,

Your Grandson

This true story was written based on an event that occurred when I was just a young boy. I wrote this story a couple of years ago and I shed many a tears when writing it, yet it brought a happy smile to my face. It still does both to this day.

I hope you enjoy it.

JD Marshall