[TheForge] OT - Kids shoveling snow

[Bruce Freeman]

Well, that's encouraging!

I've been ill for four days so far and was dreading
going out to shovel snow after the blizzard of '06
finishes up (it's still snowing!).  

Knock on the door, and this kid - maybe 11 or 12, with
a sidekick of maybe 8 - offers to shovel my "driveway"
for $20.  I turn that around to my stoop, walk,
sidewalk, and the end of my driveway (car's parked
near the end), and he agrees.  And to work they go...

I think there's some parental encouragement, here,
because there's a car in attendance at the street. 
That's all to the good.  Parents should be involved,
and this way they're watching out that nothing bad
happens to the kids. 

Oops! A correction.  Daddy's helping with the
shoveling.  Good for him.  They did a good job, too,
and quickly.

BTW - these are African-American kids demonstrating
this work ethic.  Many folks in this area are Black,
and I don't see any adverse consequence to the
neighborhood.  I recently checked (remember the MO
thing?) and found my house was worth 2-3 times its
assessed valuation.

I gave the father an extra $10 to take  his kids out
for hot chocolate (which I suppose you still can get
at a diner) or something.  Little kids chill quickly
when they quit working.

Just thought I'd pass along some good news about
people.

Bruce
NJ

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