A Modern Fable.

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Once upon a time there was a Little Old Man and a Little Old Woman. They were fairly old, not very old, and they had some money in the bank. They were fairly poor once but had saved and not been extravagant. What her Mother left them had given their bank account a considerable boost and the sale of his Father's terraced house doubled the money he left them. They remembered clearing out that old house and the Little Old Man, whose name was Norman, remembered the furniture that he had grown up with.

The Little Old Man and the Little Old Woman were pleased with their savings. They were for when they were older.

One day the Little Old Man, Norman, said, 'Shall we spend some of the money now Gladys? We're getting on you know.' The Little Old Woman, Gladys, said, 'Don't be silly Norman, you never know when we might need it.' He knew he had been silly, and was sorry and carried on cutting the Saturday banana in half. A little while later the Little Old Woman, Gladys, said, 'Norman, I've been thinking. Perhaps we could spend some of that money we saved up?' 'Don't be daft Gladys.' He said. 'You know how hard it was to save it.' She remembered how hard it had been to save it up, and was sorry, and she went out to buy a loaf of yesterday's bread.

They got older but neither of them was silly any more and they managed to keep saving a little more in case there wasn't quite enough when it was needed.

One day the little old man, Norman, died suddenly, it was very cold weather at the time and he was old, but not very old.

The Little Old Woman was worried by the savings, but she was a bit younger than Norman and it was comforting to know the money was there when she would need it, when she was very old. It seemd a bit of a waste these days only making one cup of tea with a teabag, but she still managed to put a bit away every week. Norman would have wanted that.

One day the little old woman, Gladys, died suddenly. It was very cold weather again.

The solicitor was surprised that they had saved so much money. Their son, Douglas, was pleasantly surprised. Their daughter, Yvonne, was also pleasantly surprised. Fortunately they were both 'sensible' with money. They remembered the old furniture they had sat on as children as it was taken away and the house was cleared.

Douglas said to Yvonne. 'I must say the money is a godsend, we've got some put away and we can do with this. You never know, when you get old you're probably going to need it. 'You're right Douglas.' She replied. 'Bruce and I have got some money saved but with Dad and Mum's money as well we shouldn't have to worry too much when we're getting on.'

MORAL

Very old people don't need money. For goodness sake break the cycle and spend the bloody stuff, even if it's only on a better wheelchair!

Peter :-5



The Oracle at Delphi.