A teenage boy demands that his parents pay him for doing his household chores and learns a painful lesson.
Wesley pushed his plate away. “I’m sick of meatloaf,” he complained. “Can’t you make anything else?” he asked his mother. His mom looked at him indignantly. “We had roast chicken yesterday, hamburgers the day before, fish on Friday…”
Wesley sniffed derisively. “Yeah, yeah…Whatever!” and got up from the table. “Wesley,” said his mother. “Please rinse your plate and put it in the dishwasher.” “Why should I?” asked Wesley with typical teen arrogance. “I’m not your slave!” “My slave?” gasped his mother, “How can helping out make you my slave?” “You don’t pay me, do you?” asked Wesley triumphantly. “Work without pay is slavery!” Wesley’s dad frowned. “We support you, son,” he pointed out. “We house you, feed you, clothe you, and educate you…”
“That’s your duty and my right!” said Wesley. “And the law says you have to do it too, but I don’t have to do a thing!” Wesley’s mom changed color. “I see! So we have duties and you have rights? Is that what you believe? What about your duty to help, to do your chores?” “I’m not your slave,” repeated Wesley arrogantly. “If you want me to do things around here, you’d better pay me!” Wesley’s mom jumped up but his father laid a gently restraining hand on her arm. “Pay you?” asked the father calmly. “And how much would you want for doing your chores?”
Wesley smiled triumphantly. “I’ve thought about that. For taking out the trash, $1, for washing dishes, $2, walking the dog, $4, cleaning my room, $5, and for cleaning the yard and mowing the lawn, $10. And you’re lucky I’m not demanding back pay.” “Never!” cried Wesley’s mom angrily, but his father smiled calmly. “I agree, Wesley. We will pay you for your work according to your demands. From now on you are a man, and we will treat you as such.” Wesley puffed out his chest. “It’s about time you showed me some respect!” he crowed, and his mother opened her mouth to utter an angry retort. Once again Wesley’s dad smiled sweetly and restrained her.