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THE GIFT

"One upon whom We bestow kindness But will not express gratitude, Is worse than a

robber Who carries away our belongings." (Nigerian Proverb)

"Giving is the pits."

"I don't know about that. I think it's kind of fun, at times at least."

"You mean like at Christmas?"

"Yeah, that, and on birthdays and things like that."

"You're talking about giving to kids. That's different. Kids know how to appreciate what you give them."

"Not all kids, they don't. I've got a nephew...."

"I know what you mean, but mostly they appreciates."

"Then what is it you don't like about giving? Someone take from you and not return the favor?"

"It's not that. Besides, I don't expect anything from what I give but to be a appreciated and the gift to be respected."

"Like what, for instance."

"Well, like last week. I lent my nephew my bicycle and he brought it back all busted up and out of kilter."

"Did he pay for the damage?"

"'Course not. Nobody ever does."

"That's true, alright."

"Then there's my brother-in-law who took my lawn mower and never brought it back."

"Why not? Did you tell him you wanted it back?"

"Sure I did. But he said someone stoled it."

"That doesn't matter. It's still his responsibility to replace it."

"I know, but try to tell him that."

"Yeah. I have an uncle who borrowed my dad's tools and sold them. That really got my dad riled."

"That's not borrowing, that's out 'n out stealing."

"I know it. But the ones that gets me most, 'cause it happens all the time, are the book borrowers. They almost never return them."

"Yeah. How about the ones who borrows something and then lends it to someone else. And they think that's ok."

"They're the worst all right. But you started out talking about gifts, not borrowing stuff. Borrowing is different than giving, don't you think?"

"Sure, but it's a lot the same. I mean the lack of appreciation and the care of the thing."

"Like how?"

"Like when I give something to someone and they don't use it or sell it or give it away."

"Well, there I got to disagree with you. I figure when you give something to someone it's theirs to do with what they want. If they want to sell it, or break it, they can do it just like as if they bought it there own self."

"I go along with that. But if you put a lot of time and effort into a gift and that gift isn't treated with the same respect as if the person you gave it to had done it themself, don't that agitate you?"

"Sure it does. But what can you do about it? It's not like you can take it back, is it?"

"No, but I loses the good feeling I got when I gave the gift. In fact I feel worse than if I hadn't gave it at all. I don't like that feeling one bit."

"I go along with you on that. But I say again, what can you do about it?"

"Nothing, for that time. But it's like with the disagreeable borrower, I only get took once per person. I don't lend or give to that fellow ever again."

Tumbleweed

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