The Grumpy Old Neighbor

There once existed on a quiet suburban street, a simple house. This house was a nice house in a nice community and was the dwelling place of a small family, a mother and two sons, and the cost of living there was exactly the amount the family could afford. The mother was sternly against the idea of her children living in any less of living conditions and so she toiled with no end to make sure they were able to remain there.

The neighbor, an elderly and somewhat grumpy of an individual, had worked hard for many years and now rested comfortably on the retirement he was able to establish over time. The man's wife had passed a few years before and they never did have children so most of their money had been put away. The neighbor always found the antics of the eldest boy next door rather annoying.

Then one winter day, the old man found that his walk way was covered in snow! He simply could not have this because he had to have the way to his mailbox cleared. He was not the young spry boy he once was able to trample through the snow to get to it. The old man noticed the young man next door shoveling the walk for his family, so he approached the boy with a job offer to clear his walk as well. The boy agreed and after finishing his family's walk way began to clear also the old man's.

When the work was done the old man asked of the boy, "How much do I owe you for your service?" The boy replied that he would not accept money at all, but instead wanted to have 3 days access to the old man's garage, tools, and three pieces of wood. The old man was very much surprised by the boy's noble request and slightly reluctant he finally agreed.

Three days latter it was Christmas Eve. The old man, eagerly curious by the young boys constant diligence the past three days approached the young man and asked of him what he had been doing during this time. The boy looked up at him and handed him a fantastically crafted wooden toy. "Merry Christmas," the boy exclaimed. The boy asked for three pieces of wood because he had made a wooden toy for his brother, his mother, and the old man. He then went on to explain to the shocked grumpy old neighbor, how his mother had taught him the importance of family over money and how having someone that you can count on is worth more than any amount of gold.