|
|
The
Great Nail Pickupby Delbert Trew
|
|
Years
ago, a rash of flat tires on ranch vehicles and stock trailers prompted
the search for some sort of solution. Our ranch headquarters had started
about the turn of the century so a lot of people had lived there down
through the years. Their wagons. buggies, rucks and varied activities
left nails, staplers and many sharp pieces of metal scattered along
our driveway and ranch roads.
I thought of a large magnet like the county uses occasionally on country
roads. I also decided to look at the Army surplus place to see if
they had a large magnet by chance. My practical-minded wife Ruth suggested
I pay the grandchildren a penny each for all the nails or "flat-causers"
found on the ranch. I jumped on this economcal solution to my problem
like a dog on a bone and soon had several empty coffee cans awaiting
the arrival of the little angels. Our penny bank stood ready for the
payoff.
The scene was beautiful. The children took their cans and scattered
to the four winds searching for nails. The sound of nails clinking
into the cans made beautiful music to my ears and I made plans to
throw away my jack and lug wrench. I made a big show of counting the
nails and pennies complementing each on their fine work. After a while,
the pennies ran out and I had to dig in my pocket for change.
As the project extended into more visits, I was amazed at the number
of nails those children found. No wonder I was having flats. I reached
the point where I just asked "how many' and paid off. As long as the
flats stopped, I was happy.
After the darlings left for home, I carried the nail bucket to the
trash barrel. There I discovered many of the nails were straight and
others were very shiny. I was no dummy. I had been too trusting and
had been hornswoggled by my own kin. I would be more alert in the
future.
A few weeks later, the little schemers returned for more spending
money. When I dumped the nails from their cans I found many new nails
that I knew came from the barn. I gave them a lecture on honesty while
sorting out the bogus nails. At this moment the leader and his followers
turned on the tears for Grandma Ruth. In the end, I had to pay up
as I had said, "nails found on the ranch."
The nail pickup project was successful as my flat problem almost ceased
and the children made some spending money. However, the next time
I will draw up a contract and make them sign on the dotted line. Some
of these little smart-ellics may have a great future in politics.
|
|
|
