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Young World
Finders keepers
BINA THOMAS
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Monu had lost his library book and now he had to pay to get it back.
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Monu was engrossed in his search, when a gang of boys stopped him.“Are you looking for this?” asked one of them. He held the ‘lost’ book.
“Yes, that’s mine!” said Monu.
“But now it’s ours,” said the boy shoving the book into his shirt, “and if you want it back you have to pay 50 rupees for it.”
“Rs.50? That is too high! My mother would never agree to pay that much.”
“How about 30?”
“Could we settle for 20?”
“Ok. Done.”
Monu heaved a sigh of relief. It all was his fault. While cycling home from the library, he did not realise when one of his story books fell off the carrier. His mother suggested he retrace his steps and look for the book. Thus, the matter was settled. Monu knew his mother wouldn’t be happy with this negotiation, but he desperately wanted his book back.
Paying up
Monu told the boys to wait till he returned with the money. His mother was both angry and amused on hearing the demand. She decided to accompany her son. The boys were nervous on seeing an ‘Aunty’ accompanying their ‘prey’. But, they put up a strong front. Aunty explained to the boys that it was wrong to keep something that didn’t belong to them.
“But the book doesn’t belong to you,” she said.
“And I am going to return it,” replied the kid. His gang giggled.
“But only for a price?”
“Yes, 20 rupees,” he confirmed.
“Why?” “Madame, I am being honest and told the truth that I have the book,” the young boy reasoned. “It was your son who was careless and lost a book which does not even belong to him. I found it and kept it safe. It is now my property. I can sell it to any secondhand bookstore and make some money. But, I chose to return it to your son”. Aunty was speechless. She was so impressed by the boy’s reply that she gave him the money. “This is for your honesty and fearlessly speaking your mind,” she said.
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