Around the time I started Kindergarten, I usually played with my friends Jeri and Darren. One day, however, I ended up playing
with the kids across the street. After playing for a while, these
new friends had a great idea. They suggested that we go to their next door neighbors' house (the one across the street from Darren) and pick
their cherry tomatoes.
This was great fun and what was even
better was that I got to take home what I had picked. I was so
excited to show my mom the cherry tomatoes. Soon, however, I learned
that I was not supposed to pick the neighbors' cherry
tomatoes unless I had their permission. Therefore, Mom patiently but firmly explained, I
needed to take the cherry tomatoes back.
It was a long walk across the street
and up the stairs to the neighbors' front door. I knocked on the door and the man answered. I
explained that I had picked his cherry tomatoes without his
permission and therefore I was returning them. Much to my surprise
and consternation, he told me that I should keep them. (“Yeah, but
Mom told me to give them back to you.”) He finally convinced me
that it would be OK to take them back to my mother. Mother
understood and I learned a valuable lesson about honesty. (I like to think of it
as my own mini version of the famous scene in Les Misérables.)
Funny, that’s the only time I ever remember playing with the kids across the street.
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