Olivia’s Lesson

Olivia was a cute little girl who loved being around people and she loved making friends. Buying new things made her feel content. One fine day she noticed that many of her classmates in school had these new pencils with a fancy rubber top on it. But she felt bad that she didn’t have one. When she reached home from school, she started persuading her mother to buy one. Her mother rejected her demand and reminded her that it was just yesterday that they bought a new pencil for her but she was stubborn she said, “yes but I don’t have what everyone at school has.” Her mother still disagreed and promised her to get a new pencil when she finishes this one.

Olivia got upset and realised no more persuasion can work for her  and instead she thought of a plan. The next day when she went to the school she deliberately lost her pencil and came home. She told her mother that she accidently lost the pencil and she was very sorry for it. The mother got angry and asked her how she could be so careless and lose a new pencil. She in a very apologetic tone said, “Mother I am very sorry I promise to be more careful next time now please can we buy a new pencil I promise to take utmost care of it.” Olivia’s mother realised that she had done all of it for the new pencil and she came up with a plan and agreed to buy a new pencil.

Later in the evening they went to the market and bought that fancy pencil with a colourful rubber top on it. Before buying the pencil, the mother took a promise that if Olivia lost this pencil before finishing it then she would have to go to the school every day without a pencil. Olivia readily agreed and she happily bought this new pencil and completed her homework with it. The next day when she got up, she was very excited to show her pencil to everyone. She got ready for her school and reached the breakfast table before time.

As soon as she reached school, Olivia gathered her friends and told them about the new pencil. They all were very eager to see it but as soon as she opened her bag, to Olivia’s surprise, the pencil was nowhere.

Unable to find it, she felt very embarrassed among her friends and she had to spend the whole day without a pencil. She was scared to go home as this was a very expensive pencil. When she reached home, and told her mother about it, her mother got very upset and reprimanded her for this negligent behaviour. She said, “This is the second pencil you have lost in two days Olivia, is this how you should behave? You promised me that if you lose this pencil you will work without it. Now as a punishment you will have to manage and complete all your homework without it.” The thought of completing her homework without her new pencil made Olivia teary-eyed. She had to confess to her mother so she said, “Mom please forgive me – I left the older pencil intentionally near my school somewhere because I wanted a new one, almost everyone in my class had it, I too wanted to be a part of the group.” To this her mother replied, “Dear Olivia, a new pencil will not help you to be a part of the group, you already are a part of the group. You have so many friends and they will remain your friends even if you don’t have that fancy pencil. You cannot always have what others have; try to be happy with things you have, dear.” 

Olivia realised her mistake and said “Mom I am very sorry I shouldn’t have done that and you are right I promise to not repeat my mistake again.” Seeing that her daughter had genuinely realised her mistake, mother promised Olivia that they would revisit the market on the coming weekend and purchase a new pencil. Olivia was very happy and relieved on hearing this. She hugged her mother and apologised again.