The Cost of a Fish
It was a much simpler time. It was during a time when good
folk dreamed of white picket fences and freshly made pies cooling on the window
sill. Life had its small responsibilities, yet, they never got in the way of
treasuring its happy moments.
On a street lined with medium sized houses and golden
retrievers, lived two best friends. A curly-haired boy named Max and his best
friend, the amber-eyed Rob. Inseparable since birth, each had done their share
of mischievous plots common to boys their age. Despite the childish antics, an
unbreakable bond of trust had formed between the two.
Although being only eight years old, the unwavering
confidence placed into each other was remarkable. Max knew that no matter how
dire the situation, Rob would be there for him. Equally so, Rob knew to count
on Max in his time of need.
For example, should Max declare that he wanted to go biking;
Rob would quickly grab his helmet and meet him in the park. Similarly, if Rob
said that he wanted to play marbles, Max would draw a wide circle in the sand.
It was not a question of whether or not either enjoyed the activities. Being a
good friend meant hanging out together, even if you weren’t fond of biking or
marbles.
This system had worked fairly well, until one day; Max
decided that he liked fish. In fact, he liked fish so much he was going to buy
one as a pet. Becoming quite knowledgeable about the different species, Max
shared all what he learned with Rob. Rob was grateful for the tidbits of info
on fish, yet was largely indifferent to them. Still, as long as his friend was
happy, so was he. The problem was, however, that neither had enough money to
buy one. That is when their troubles
began.
To help pay for the fish, Rob agreed to help Max save their
dimes. It was to originally be a long day spent at the batting cages. Instead,
the two friends spent a long day scouring for spare change in their homes.
After several hours of rummaging through old coats and sofa
cushions, they took a break. Finding one hundred pennies, two quarters and a
handful of nickels, or about $1.65, was the reward for their grueling five hour
effort.
Max, ever the optimist, announced; “Now we only need $9.35
more to go!” Smiling from ear to ear, he looked ready to go another round. But,
their mothers were calling them for dinner. Rob was less enthusiastic over
their efforts. He would’ve rather gone outside to play instead of being cooped
up looking for money. Still, he was glad to have helped. Besides, as long as
his friend was smiling he wasn’t about to complain.
Their little block awoke to a picturesque summers day
morning, complete with a perfect breeze. It was prime weather for climbing
trees. A particularly old oak tree, warned by adults as being dangerous to
climb would be the perfect candidate for such a day. Rob, excited as could be,
sprinted across the street to invite Max.
To his surprise, Max
was nowhere to be found. Worried, Rob asked Max’s mother where he could be.
“Mrs. O’Connell, where is Max? Is he sick?” he Rob. That
could be the only logical reason why Max wasn’t home.
Max’s mother assured him that he was fine. In fact, Max had
left for Main St. to shine shoes for the gentlemen entering the county
courthouse. Shoe shiners could earn a pretty penny if they were quick enough.
Those wages would go towards buying his pet fish.
Rob slightly disappointed, debated his next move. The warm
breeze was enticing, a perfect day to spend climbing all the trees he desired.
But, Max wouldn’t be there. And everyone knows it’s no fun to climb alone.
No, the choice was clear. Max needed him. Thanking Mrs. O’Connell,
Rob hurriedly grabbed a shoebox, a brush and some polish and then ran towards
Main St. Racing past the fire station, the park gazebo and the general store
Rob was on a mission. He was coming to his friend’s financial rescue.
Finally,
he reached the courthouse, out of breathe and slightly sore.
There was Max. Clad in overalls, bent down at the footsteps
of city hall. Covered head to toe in brownish-black shoe polish. A long line of
well dressed gentlemen stood by, impatient for their turn. It was clear that
Max would not be able to handle all rush hour customers by himself. Max looked
up and was amazed to see Rob there to help him, shoe-shining supplies in hand.
With a beaming smile, he waved him through the crowd, grateful for the extra
help. Immediately, Rob set up shop and
attended to the overflow of customers.
The earnings weren’t bad that day, a combined total of $4.50.Max
took all the earnings, which was fine with Rob. Rob just hoped that soon they’d
get to do something more fun than shining shoes.
Counting on his fingers, Rob calculated that they had $4.85
more to go. Hmmm...$10 was mighty expensive for a measly fish. After all, you
could get a little goldfish at the carnival for a quarter. Was Max going to buy
a fleet of goldfishes? That seemed extreme, even for Max. ‘No, that can’t be
it, wondered Rob, ‘He probably wants a real exotic one.’ Max never did like the
cheap stuff.
As the two made their
way back to their little houses, the two friends talked at length. Max thanked
Rob for his help; he was thrilled with the progress they made that day. ‘What
other ways could they make more money?’ said Max. Rob was gracious, and didn’t
mind helping. In the back of his mind, he had a strange feeling that his best friend
was changing.
Max kept speaking on and on about strange things. Things
like, inventions he’d make and sell. Imaginary businesses, high return
investments and such. Rob was taken aback at how detailed his plans were. When
Rob spoke, he was usually pretending to be a pirate. Or sometimes he was a cowboy.
Once, he was a circus conductor in his imaginary big top taming lions who
breathed fire. Rob wondered if he’d ever spend time with Max like the ‘good old
days’.
The next few days were unbearable to Rob. Secretly he hoped Max
had forgotten all about fish and money. He wanted to play and have fun, like
they had done in the summers before. Sadly, it was not to be. Max had not
forgotten about the fish. No, in fact, he had devised more ways to earn money. Rob’s
eyes widened when Max said they must ‘increase their revenues.’ Rob didn’t know what revenue meant. He got
the impression though, that it meant a decrease in his playtime.
Max was carrying a large stack of newspapers, of which he
divided in half. One stack went to Rob who was to sell them on the west side of
the street corner. While Max, would sell his half on the east side of the
street corner.
“That way, “Max explained,”
we will reach both incoming and outgoing potential customers.”
Limping walking to his assigned corner, Rob wished that Max
hadn’t put them so far away from each other.
If they sold right next to each other they could at least play catch
among their paper piles. That idea was quickly tossed aside as Max said they
wouldn’t make good money that way. Yet again, another perfectly decent play day
was ruined.
Passerby’s noticed the two strange newspaper boys at
opposite ends of the street. At the east end, was a very gregarious and
charismatic little boy. He’d stare at onlookers square in the eye, confidently
announcing the paper’s headlines. In contrast, the little boy at the west end
was a very quiet one. His eyes quizzically observed his surroundings, while he folded
lots of paper airplanes. Sometimes to the customer’s astonishment, the newspaper
they had purchased was folded into 10 separate paper planes.
The entire week was spent working on various odd jobs booked
by Max. There was the fence painting, the lemonade stand, and then helping Mr.
Grundy with his fruit stand. It was endless! Max could do the work on his own,
but to really succeed he needed Rob as an extra pair of hands. Rob was
beginning to grow tired of this. Hadn’t they already earned enough money to buy
that stupid fish? Finally, after wasting weeks that should’ve been spent playing,
things could go back to normal.
Resentment was starting to brew in their tiny child hearts. To
top it off, Rob was really beginning to dislike fish. Especially, since Max
hadn’t actually bought one yet, although having the funds to do so. ‘Apparently
the more exotic and pricier fishes sold at the pet store aren’t good enough for
him,’ grumbled Rob.
Summer days were becoming few as the new school year
approached. Rob dreaded the idea of being chained to a classroom for hours. Feeling
out of place among his classmates was his biggest gripe about school. Max though, couldn’t wait for school to begin.
Being very extroverted, he looked forward to meeting new peers. Maybe they
could become potential customers.
One hot August day, the two friends decided to go out by the
pond and skip rocks. With the return to school looming over them, many of their
days were overshadowed by school preparations. Much to their annoyance, their
mothers had insisted on buying them new uniforms, so they spend hours trying on
stuffy sweater vests. Not a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
“Look I skipped 4 times, ha I beat you!” Max was feeling
particular competitive. Rob, normally good natured, felt a little slighted by
Max’s taunt. Max was normally very sporting. Yet, there was no ignoring the
budding arrogance rising in his voice.
Rob ignored his comment. However, Max didn’t get the hint.
“You lose! You lose! You’re a Loser!” He repeated over and
over.
Angered, Rob lashed back . “Fine, I’m a loser.” “Now, you’re
one too. ‘Cause we’re not friends anymore.”
“Aw, don’t be sore
Rob. Here I’ll buy us some milkshakes.” Taking out a small wallet, he grabbed a
few bills from a thickly stack. Waving the crisp bills in Rob’s face in the
ultimate condescension, Rob was shocked at how haughty his best friend had
become.
Seeing that stack of unspent bills was a low blow. Rob had
voluntarily given up his free time to earn money for Max’s fish. It was to be a
means to an end. Instead of the end being a pet fish, their friendship had
ended. Max had become greedy, mean and a bully of a boy. Rob added money to his
list of hated things, it topped fish by several spaces.
“Why haven’t you bought your pet fish yet?” Rob’s voice was
getting loud.
Nonchalantly, he replied. “Because, I’m holding out for a
better one. I’ll take on some more jobs and then I’ll buy one that’s really
expensive and special.”
“It won’t be good enough for you. You’ll keep on working and
it still won’t be good enough. You’re not happy now, you’re never going to be.
No matter how many dollar bills you stuff into that wallet.”
Rob’s voice was
flat and even, but, there was not denying the hurt in his voice.
Max was startled at Rob’s words. Why was Rob being so
unsupportive of his new career?
“Wake up Rob, the world is changing. Whoever earns the most
amount of money gets respect. That’s just how it is. Don’t get mad at me for
that, Rob.” he was insistent.
“Rich men have no friends! Rich men don’t smile because they
know they are loved for their money not for who they are!”Rob was screaming.
Rob took a shiny quarter from the pocket of his jeans, it
was his weekly allowance. Staring at it with a look of disgust, disappointment
and sadness in his eyes, he then handed it over to Max.
“Here take it. That’s all you wanted me for anyway,
right? That way you can be closer to
getting your dreams.”
Speechless Max held the coin in his hands, watching as his
once best friend walked slowly back home with his head held low. Max no longer
had a best friend anymore. It was just him. And his dollar bills.
School started the next day, both boys rose, dressed and ate
before heading out the door. As they walked out from their porches, they could
see each other from across the street. Max’s face was hopeful upon seeing Rob, but
Rob cast his eyes downward and ignored him.
As luck would have it, their desks were assigned right next
to each other. That didn’t encourage conversation between the two boys. When a
math pop quiz was suddenly announced, Rob groaned. In the previous years, Max
would spend hours tutoring Rob on his worst subject. Needless to say, Rob
failed the test.
Art period came and Rob brightened up. He was very skilled
at subtly blending colors together to create artwork that was on par with older
students. At times, teachers would request his work to give to others. He
received a perfect grade that day. Max had always struggled with art, and
without Rob to remind him to plan his palate, his project was a muddy colored
mess.
As the school day progressed, Max eagerly sought the company
of his fellow students. They were nice enough kids, he played catch with a few
more boys his age. Rob stood in the corner with his sketchbook casually
capturing a few doodles of the school yard. The solitude allowed him progress
farther in his skills.
Although still ignoring each other, the void left behind
started to make itself known. Max convinced a few boys to help him with some
new ventures. Some would help him now and then, but, they’d leave as soon as
they were paid their wages. Swell enough to be around, yet did not understand
him the way his ex best friend did.
Rob began to miss showing his artwork and poetry to Max.
Showing it to the milkman, the mailman and his mother didn’t produce the same
admiration than that of Max.
One Saturday morning, Rob was tasked with hanging up the wet
linen sheets by his mother. As he attached clothespins to the first sheet, a
dark shadow appeared behind the whiteness.
It was Max.
His arms were behind him, carrying some strange object. He
hobbled forward, his face unsure, his foot twitching with nervousness.
“Hi, Rob. Say… I don’t see you ‘round anymore.”
“Hey Max. No, guess not.”
After a few moments of awkward silence, Max suddenly blurted
out.
“I bought the fish today. You remember, the one I had been
talking about?”
“You mean the one you ruined our friendship for?” replied
Rob bluntly.
“Yes, that’s the one.” His voice was sheepish. His eyes cast
down wards, still grappling the object behind him he took a strong step
forward. Kneeling down, he placed the object gently on the ground near the feet
of Rob.
It was a round glass bowl, inside was a bright blue fish
swimming around in circles.
“I get the point, now.
Living for what you can buy won’t take me far. So, with that being said,
I want you to have Ronnie.” pointing to the happy guppy in
the bowl.
Rob’s face had softened. Apologizing for his outburst earlier,
he complimented his friends money making abilities. He admitted that he was
never good with change but, he’s seen now that the future is always changing.
It was a beautiful autumn day, rife with chirping
grasshoppers. The two friends spent the afternoon trying to catch them in jars,
enjoying the company. A new maturity had emerged from the two. A new holiday
was formed from that day, where each would purchase a guppy fish for the other.
The small reminder of what is really important in life.
As they grew up, the world around them changed dramatically.
Segregation was declared immoral. Then came a space program, soon after, a cold
war. Economic booms and depressions. Values both changed and eroded.
Yet despite the chaos, Rob and Max kept a very level head
through their senior years. As they gently lost touch to form their own
families, they never forgot about the cost of a fish.
