Industrious

My 12-year-old had a choice: he could sell pies for $10, putting $5 toward his upcoming orchestra trip to Chicago, the remaining $5 going to the school/pie company; or skip the pies and give people something they really want: rake their leaves, and keeping the $10 for himself.

He decided to rake leaves.

Here’s how it went at one house:

• Homeowner: “How much would you charge to rake the leaves in my front yard?”
• Son: “$10”
• Homeowner: “I already have someone who rakes my leaves, but here’s $10 for your time.”

She wrote him a check. By the end of the week, he had earned $150.00 — from actually raking leaves.