The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 108 I Can Do It

[United States] Karl Christophe

For so many years, that look full of love has remained in my heart.Over the years, I have realized that the greatest happiness my father gave me is to let me understand-I can do it!

As a child, I thought my father was the meanest and meanest man in the world.I'm pretty sure he didn't want me to have that dream bike at all.

My father and I disagreed on many things.How can we agree?I am a 10-year-old street kid. My greatest happiness is to find a way to work less and have time to play in Yellowstone Park near my home.And my father is a hard-working, hard-working person.My father and I had had several discussions in the woodshed about my way of peddling newspapers before my dream bike showed up at Mark Fax's shop.

Half of the money I earn from selling newspapers is given to my mother to buy clothes; 1/4 is deposited in the bank for future use; only the remaining 1/4 is at my disposal.Therefore, only by selling more newspapers will I have more money in my hands.So, I keep trying to increase my sales share.My method is: when selling, try to arouse the sympathy of others.Like, one summer day in Yellowstone playground, I yelled, "Sell the newspaper, sell the Montana Standard, who's going to buy a paper from me, a miserable cross-eyed orphan?" At that time, my father came out of a friend's tent.He escorted me home, we went into the woodshed, and he cut my pay from 1/4 to 1/8.

Two weeks later, my income dropped again.I was having dinner with my family when my friend Jem walked in.He put a bunch of coins on the table and asked me to pay him, five cents.I embarrassedly gave it to him.I tricked him into selling newspapers for me with 5 cents, so that I would be free to go to the farm to watch the fish play.My father saw through my "trick" immediately, and then, in the woodshed, he said with a livid face, "Son, you should know that Jem is my boss's son." My income was reduced to 5/1.

Ashamed to say, it didn't take long for things to get worse.Because my father noticed that I ate ice cream cones now and then, which I should not be able to afford on my reduced income.

Later, he found that I collected discarded newspapers, cut out headlines, and sent them to publishers as proof that the newspapers were not sold.Then, the publisher compensated me.Because of this, my father cut my income to 1/32.Soon, I was almost broke.

Being penniless didn't bother me much until one day, as I was wandering around the Fax store, a red bicycle caught my eye and never got out of my sight.I think it is the most beautiful car in the world.It inspired my most extravagant daydreams: I dreamed that I was riding it over hillsides, around sparkling lakes, streams.Finally, tired and happy, I lay down on a secluded meadow covered with wildflowers, holding my bike tightly to my chest.

I walked over to my father who was fixing the car.

"What do you want me to do, Dad?"

"No, son. Thanks."

I stood there, looking at the ground, and started scraping with the toes of my boots, and nearly wiped the driveway clean.

"dad?"

"Oh?"

"Dad, you and Mum don't have to give me Christmas presents this year. And you won't have to give them another 20 years."

"Son, I know you love that bike. But we can't afford it!"

"I will pay you back the money, double it!"

"Son, you are working, you can save money to buy it!"

"But Dad, you always have to take some of it to buy clothes."

"Jack, we've already talked about that. You know, we all have to do our part. Come on, sit down and let's figure it out. If you miss two movies a month and eat three eggs Roll up the ice cream, save two bags of popcorn. If you don't go buy the marbles... oh, you'll save $3 this summer."

"But Dad, it costs $20 to buy a bike. That saves me and I'm still $17 short. At that rate, I'll be old before I get a car."

My father couldn't help laughing: "Son, I don't think so." "What's so funny." I muttered.He laughed at such a serious matter, I was absolutely pissed off.I turned around with my back to him.Suddenly, a strange idea flashed in my mind, maybe I can really do something I thought was impossible.

Just consider it a challenge!Exasperated by my father's hard line and driven by my love of cycling, I started working hard and saving money.I desperately sold newspapers, didn't watch movies, and didn't buy popcorn or ice cream. 30 cents, 65 cents, $1, 1 cents per dollar.

I saved penny by penny, trying not to think how far I was from $20.Then, something unexpected happened.Mr. Joffrey--a friend of my father's--the park ranger told me to come over to him.

"Jack," he said, "I need a courier for six weeks at thirteen dollars at this time. Do you want the job?"

Do I want it?It is simply wishing for it!My father said that because of the high salary, I only need to pay half of it to the family.By the end of the summer, I had saved $11.

But then came the recession.I go back to school. 10 cents, 5 cents, or even 1 cent is not earned.In the end, I made $2 over Christmas by helping deliver pine, spruce to banks, stores, and people who didn't want to cut down their own trees.

That's $7 short.At this time, a friend of mine was ill and asked me to work for him and deliver the "Enterprise Newspaper".I earn $1 a week, get up at 4am, fold the newspaper, and walk 5 miles in the freezing wind.The weather has just improved and my friend is back at work.I have $19.

Just shy of $1 and I think it's done as much as possible.So, I went up to my dad and said, "Dad, please give me a dollar!"

But I soon realized that asking him was like asking the sun to rise in the west.The father said, "You're asking for a handout, Jack. My son won't ask for a handout!"

I almost wanted to run away with that $19, or, jump off a tree.What would my father think if I broke my leg?Frustrated, I wandered into Fax's shop to get a peek at my beloved bike.But when I got there, the car wasn't in the window.God, don't do this!I think it's been sold.I rushed into the store and saw Fox pushing the cart to the back storage room. "Mr. Fax," I cried, "this bicycle, you didn't sell it, did you?"

"No, Jack, it's not for sale. It's been in the window for ages and no one's buying it. I just want to put it on the wall and get the price down to $18."

At that time, aviation rockets had not yet been invented, but I was shot into Mr. Fax's arms like a rocket.My bony arms and legs wrapped around him so tightly that I nearly smothered the old gentleman in a hug.

"Don't let anyone else buy this car, I will. Wait for me!"

"Don't worry," gasped Mr. Fax, smiling, "it's yours."

I ran up the street, and when I was a block away from home, I started yelling, "Mom, get the money, get the 19 dollars!" I ran all the way, and I yelled, "Hurry up, mom! Get the money!" Come out!" I flew back to the store and put the money on the counter. "I've got a dollar more. How much for that luggage rack and that basket, Mr. Fax?"

"Jack, you can buy them both for a dollar."

After a few minutes, I walked out of the store.

I rode my bike, waving to everyone I saw, yelling, "Hey! Check out my new bike!
I bought it myself! "

When I got home, I ran into the yard and nearly knocked my father down.

"Dad, look at my new car! It's the best! It goes like the wind. Oh, thank you! Dad, thank you!"

"Don't thank me, son. You don't have to thank me, I didn't do anything."

"But I am so happy, so happy!"

"You feel happy because you deserve it."

In joy, my eyes blurred.But in an instant, I took a serious look at my father, and I saw that he was also very happy, and even a little proud of me.I saw the love in his eyes, the love for his son growing up.

For so many years, that look full of love has remained in my heart.Over the years, I have realized that the greatest happiness my father gave me is to let me understand-I can do it!

Heart mark notes
In real life, we often tend to ignore our father's care for us.Maybe it's because the father's love is too deep, as deep as a valley, so deep that it is difficult to explore, so deep that we can't even feel the existence of this love.Therefore, some people say that fatherly love is fiery but sometimes stern, rough but sometimes demanding, real and mysterious.Father is always in no hurry to express his love for us. Compared with mother's care and caring for our lives, father's love is more restrained.Father always holds the steering wheel of our life, and does not let our life boat deviate a bit.He focuses on our life with love, teaches us to be independent, and teaches us how to choose the attitude of life.

(End of this chapter)