The Moral of the Story Is?
By Mona Lease

Hi, all!! I read a story a very long time ago - seems there was a guy who wanted to destroy another guy's work - his "family" - as it were. The guy looked at the "family" from all angles. Should he just walk up to the man and see if he could trick him? - maybe tell a few lies or something? No - the man knew the rules. He'd never listen. The man and his wife were happy - blast it all. Wait - the wife!! He watched her for awhile - then he picked a piece of fruit off of a nearby tree, and smiling - he went up to the woman. She ate it! and later gave some to her husband!! When the "Head" of the family found out about the broken rules - the lying started - walking hand in hand with the accusations - and the "It's not my faults" appeared.

I remembered the above story while trying to counsel a woman to "think" before she just packs up the kiddies and leaves her husband. Some "smiling guy" said she did not deserve to live the way she is living - she should be "free" to come and go as she pleased. (Remember - she is married). And it's warm weather now - better than -17 a mere four months ago now! But he told her the way she is now is not the Betty Boop he remembered from long in the past. (DUH! - she has "responsibilities!"). And just like the above story - Betty was happy until someone told her she was not or should not be - since she has to clean a house instead of sleeping until noon - or whatever she was told she was "entitled to do." (She'll clean a house where ever she is, too!).

If you readers remember how my mind works, you'll know it went straight to - "Is that really how easily we (as women) can be deceived? Is that all it takes - some food and a smile? And in the above story - the fruit the guy gave to the woman was not even his! - according to the story.

Also - what is the guy doing (or maybe not doing - like work or the lack of it) that he knows what Mrs. Boop deserves? I do not know if drugs are involved in the counseling situation. If they are, they only intensify the "I deserve better" idea.

The above does give an indication to some needed critical thinking, though...What caused the wife to give in to the "fruit and smile" - a headache?...husband forgot to put down the toilet seat?...baby was teething?...too many expenses and not enough money?

The first story ended with Mrs. E and her husband being evicted from their soft and cushy home for violating the rental agreement. They had to leave their climate/rent controlled home and start anew - much harder work - few if any "perks" and they had to make a whole new set of friends. Then my mind went to -

Is the above the reason we have the heroin (any drug) problem? - you know - in the above - both guys evidently did not have a job (or too much free time)...they went to a woman - caught her on a bad day (sometimes for me - that seems like everyday!), appealed to her ego - and got what he wanted! I think in Mrs. Boop's case - the guy wants a "free ride" - so he used the tired, old line - "Baby, you deserve better" - notice he is referring to "Mr. Boop" and not to himself - who knew her "way back when."

And on a scarier scale - people in these situations do not really care what our "higher up leaders" do or not do. They really only care about their rights - as they perceive them - which in the above cases - does not indicate any sort of responsibility - personal or otherwise. The proof of this would be that in the above cases - the man/friend talked to the woman when the husband was not present or was looking another direction...is that "stalking?"

Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next time. Ever Toodles!! MONA