Brian was a sloppy and a lazy boy of nine years. He wouldn’t listen to his parents or teachers, wouldn’t do his homework and his parents would be upset with his regular complaints from School.
One Sunday,
“Brian, can you take the thrash out?” Brian’s mother called from the kitchen while Brian was still lying on his bed with his comic book.
With no reply from Brian, his mother came over to check on him.
“Brian! Didn’t you hear me?” His mother asked in anger.
“Mom... I don’t want to.”Brian said and turned over to the other side.
“So you did hear me. How can you be so lazy and careless Brian? Your exams are coming in 3 weeks and you are reading
comic? What are you going to go with your life?” His mother reproached.
Brian turned to look at his mother.
“Okay okay... I will take the trash can out.”Brian said getting up sluggishly.
Brian’s mother could only get angry on his reaction and went back to the kitchen.
That night, Brian’s mother didn’t have dinner.
“What happened, dear?” Brian’s father asked.
“I am very concerned with Brian’s behavior. His activities are deteriorating every day. He talks with no respect, nor does he care for anyone.”Brian’s mother said, worried. “He doesn’t help in the house, nor is he interested in his studies. What are we going to do?”
Brian’s father thought for a while and then said, “He needs to be given his own dose of actions. I have given him enough advices and warnings but it seems he will learn the hard way only.” His father said thoughtfully.
“What are you thinking?”Brian’s mother asked looking at his father.
His father looked back with a smirk on his face.
The next day,
Brian woke up when the sunlight touched his face through the window. He stretched himself and looked outside. He could see high traffic on the road and children playing in the garden.
“What time is it?” Brian thought and took his watch from the table to check the time.
“Oh! I’m late!”Brian shouted.
“Mom, I’m late for school... They are not going to let me in today. Where are you?” Brian yelled looking for his towel around.
When Brian got no response, he went into the bathroom.
This was the first time that Brian had prepared himself for School without any help. When Brian was dressed in his school uniform, he came to the kitchen looking for his mother.
“Mom! Where are you? Mom!”Brian called but when he got no response, he got nervous and started looking for his mother all around the house.
Finally when Brian came to the drawing room, he saw both of his parents sitting on the couch watching movie.
“Is it Sunday? “Brian asked surprised.
“Hi Sweetie... Come over and join us. It’s a good movie.”Brian’s mother said.
“What are you guys doing? I’m supposed to be in school right now. Where’s my breakfast?” Brian asked.
“Take it easy son. We discussed and we found that you were right for everything. We have decided to be just like you. We are leaving all our responsibilities and duties behind.”Brian’s father replied.
“So you won’t go to work today?”Brian asked disturbed.
“Today? I’m not going ever!”
“And I’m off my duties as well. You won’t be pressurized to go to school, or to sleep on time, or to eat your vegetables, NOTHING! Be your own boss.” Brian’s mother said popping up popcorn into her mouth.
“But... But...” Brian tried to question but then thought not to and went back to his room.
He was amazed at his parent’s behavior but on the other side was tempted by the days without rules. He could do anything he wanted to; without anyone to scold or punish him.
That complete day Brian spent playing video games and reading comic books.
A day passed by and there was no change at his parent’s end.
The next day, Alen, Brian’s school friends called him on phone.
“Hey Brian, when are you joining school? “Alen asked.
“Well... I’m on a break right now. I’m planning next month.”Brian informed.
“Well, Ms. Rachel informed us in the class that if you don’t join School back tomorrow, your name would be removed from the school. And you know what? They are taking us all to the amusement park next week. You will be missing that. “Alen informed.
Brian was quiet for a while.
“I want to go to the amusement park.” He thought.
“I will be joining you guys to the park.” Brian said on phone.
He went to the living room where his mother was reading a magazine.
Brian stood there for sometime unspoken and then went back to his room. The new rule less life was getting tough on him. No school was fun in the beginning but with that he was missing all the fun and friends. He wasn’t enjoying staying the room, and was bored of having to make his food. Brian wished that he gets his old life back but was guilty since he had now realized what important role his parents had in his life.
The next morning when Brian’s parents woke up to check on Brian, he wasn’t in his room.
“I guess the plan worked. “Brian’s father said in excitement. “But we’ll have to wait another two days. I will call his teacher to ask if he’s in school. “
Brian had left for school on time without waking anyone. He had made his breakfast.
When Brian came back from school, he went to his room, changed, made sandwiches for lunch and did his homework before leaving to play.
A week later,
“Brian, we have something to tell you. “Brian’s father said.
“What dad?” Brian asked.
“You will not be going to school from next month.”He said.
“Why?”Brian asked worried.
“Because your father isn’t working anymore and doesn’t make money to pay your fees.”Brian’s mother informed.
Brian’s eyes were all teary.
“What happened? Isn’t that you wished for? No school, no homework! “Brian’s father said.
“Please don’t do that. I know I have been a bad boy. But I have changed. I got an ‘A’ for my English test yesterday and they all applauded in the class. I don’t want to leave school.” Brian said sobbing.
“How long Brian? In a week, you will get back to being your original self.”His mother said. “Your shoes will be all over the place, your toys will be everywhere, no responsibilities, no studies, complains from school, the embarrassing parents’ teachers meeting...”
“That won’t happen again. I promise Mom...”Brian said “Dad, please go back to work. I would be responsible.”
“Do you swear to it Brian?”Brian’s father asked.
“I promise dad.” Brian replied still tearful.
Brian’s parents looked back at each other and nodded.
“Okay Brian. It will all get back to normal again but this would be your one last chance. “Brian’s father said.
When Brian left, his parents gave out a relieving breath.
“I need to meet his teacher. She has helped us a lot in tracking Brian’s progress in school.”He said.
That day onwards, there was no scolding or shouting on Brian. He acted as a responsible boy who studied well and managed his part of the work at house. It all made life easy for his parents and Brian. The only regret Brian had been that he hadn’t helped himself sooner.
One Sunday,
“Brian, can you take the thrash out?” Brian’s mother called from the kitchen while Brian was still lying on his bed with his comic book.
With no reply from Brian, his mother came over to check on him.
“Brian! Didn’t you hear me?” His mother asked in anger.
“Mom... I don’t want to.”Brian said and turned over to the other side.
comic? What are you going to go with your life?” His mother reproached.
Brian turned to look at his mother.
“Okay okay... I will take the trash can out.”Brian said getting up sluggishly.
Brian’s mother could only get angry on his reaction and went back to the kitchen.
That night, Brian’s mother didn’t have dinner.
“What happened, dear?” Brian’s father asked.
“I am very concerned with Brian’s behavior. His activities are deteriorating every day. He talks with no respect, nor does he care for anyone.”Brian’s mother said, worried. “He doesn’t help in the house, nor is he interested in his studies. What are we going to do?”
Brian’s father thought for a while and then said, “He needs to be given his own dose of actions. I have given him enough advices and warnings but it seems he will learn the hard way only.” His father said thoughtfully.
“What are you thinking?”Brian’s mother asked looking at his father.
His father looked back with a smirk on his face.
The next day,
Brian woke up when the sunlight touched his face through the window. He stretched himself and looked outside. He could see high traffic on the road and children playing in the garden.
“What time is it?” Brian thought and took his watch from the table to check the time.
“Oh! I’m late!”Brian shouted.
“Mom, I’m late for school... They are not going to let me in today. Where are you?” Brian yelled looking for his towel around.
When Brian got no response, he went into the bathroom.
This was the first time that Brian had prepared himself for School without any help. When Brian was dressed in his school uniform, he came to the kitchen looking for his mother.
“Mom! Where are you? Mom!”Brian called but when he got no response, he got nervous and started looking for his mother all around the house.
Finally when Brian came to the drawing room, he saw both of his parents sitting on the couch watching movie.
“Is it Sunday? “Brian asked surprised.
“Hi Sweetie... Come over and join us. It’s a good movie.”Brian’s mother said.
“What are you guys doing? I’m supposed to be in school right now. Where’s my breakfast?” Brian asked.
“Take it easy son. We discussed and we found that you were right for everything. We have decided to be just like you. We are leaving all our responsibilities and duties behind.”Brian’s father replied.
“So you won’t go to work today?”Brian asked disturbed.
“Today? I’m not going ever!”
“And I’m off my duties as well. You won’t be pressurized to go to school, or to sleep on time, or to eat your vegetables, NOTHING! Be your own boss.” Brian’s mother said popping up popcorn into her mouth.
“But... But...” Brian tried to question but then thought not to and went back to his room.
He was amazed at his parent’s behavior but on the other side was tempted by the days without rules. He could do anything he wanted to; without anyone to scold or punish him.
That complete day Brian spent playing video games and reading comic books.
A day passed by and there was no change at his parent’s end.
The next day, Alen, Brian’s school friends called him on phone.
“Hey Brian, when are you joining school? “Alen asked.
“Well... I’m on a break right now. I’m planning next month.”Brian informed.
“Well, Ms. Rachel informed us in the class that if you don’t join School back tomorrow, your name would be removed from the school. And you know what? They are taking us all to the amusement park next week. You will be missing that. “Alen informed.
Brian was quiet for a while.
“I want to go to the amusement park.” He thought.
“I will be joining you guys to the park.” Brian said on phone.
He went to the living room where his mother was reading a magazine.
Brian stood there for sometime unspoken and then went back to his room. The new rule less life was getting tough on him. No school was fun in the beginning but with that he was missing all the fun and friends. He wasn’t enjoying staying the room, and was bored of having to make his food. Brian wished that he gets his old life back but was guilty since he had now realized what important role his parents had in his life.
The next morning when Brian’s parents woke up to check on Brian, he wasn’t in his room.
“I guess the plan worked. “Brian’s father said in excitement. “But we’ll have to wait another two days. I will call his teacher to ask if he’s in school. “
Brian had left for school on time without waking anyone. He had made his breakfast.
When Brian came back from school, he went to his room, changed, made sandwiches for lunch and did his homework before leaving to play.
A week later,
“Brian, we have something to tell you. “Brian’s father said.
“What dad?” Brian asked.
“You will not be going to school from next month.”He said.
“Why?”Brian asked worried.
“Because your father isn’t working anymore and doesn’t make money to pay your fees.”Brian’s mother informed.
Brian’s eyes were all teary.
“What happened? Isn’t that you wished for? No school, no homework! “Brian’s father said.
“Please don’t do that. I know I have been a bad boy. But I have changed. I got an ‘A’ for my English test yesterday and they all applauded in the class. I don’t want to leave school.” Brian said sobbing.
“How long Brian? In a week, you will get back to being your original self.”His mother said. “Your shoes will be all over the place, your toys will be everywhere, no responsibilities, no studies, complains from school, the embarrassing parents’ teachers meeting...”
“That won’t happen again. I promise Mom...”Brian said “Dad, please go back to work. I would be responsible.”
“I promise dad.” Brian replied still tearful.
Brian’s parents looked back at each other and nodded.
When Brian left, his parents gave out a relieving breath.
“I need to meet his teacher. She has helped us a lot in tracking Brian’s progress in school.”He said.
That day onwards, there was no scolding or shouting on Brian. He acted as a responsible boy who studied well and managed his part of the work at house. It all made life easy for his parents and Brian. The only regret Brian had been that he hadn’t helped himself sooner.
