“Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.”
-Mary Schmich
“We thought you’d like to know that we shipped your gift,” the message from Amazon.com informed me, almost a week after I presented an opportunity to four eighth-grade boys to earn $25 each.
Deborah Daniels, a business-education teacher at Southeast Middle School, had invited me to the school to talk to the participants in the after-school “boys club.” The focus of the club includes building community, self-esteem, leadership and helping the boys make good choices.
We had an interesting conversation, just getting to know one another. I found out some of the things they like to do, like taking pictures with their cell phones. I answered their questions as well.
One is a ladies’ man, so he says. Girls have distracted him in the past from studying like he should. That’s his story, and he is sticking to it. He has corrected his bad habits now and is improving, he told me. He likes basketball and football.
His friend, the boy who sat beside him that day, likes football, too. He is a tall boy and would make a good tight end on a football team, even though he said he wants to be a wide receiver. I am not sure he is fast enough, though. He shared some pictures he had taken on his smartphone and told me a few stories about playing outside with his friends.
The other two boys have common interests; both like hunting and fishing. And they both had cell phones, too. Things have changed since I was in the eighth grade. They shared pictures they had taken fishing and hunting. I was impressed with their enthusiasm for their hobbies.
After answering some of their expected questions “like” (more on that word in a moment) — where I work and what I do, I challenged them.
“Are you all willing to accept a challenge?”
Reluctantly, hands were raised and then the question: “What do we have to do?”
“Tell me what book you would like to read, send me your address and I will buy it and have it sent to you,” I said. “You must read the book, invite me back to discuss it and for doing so, I will give you $20.”
They jumped at the challenge immediately, motivated now that I had their attention. After explaining the opportunity, each boy shook my hand. We huddled and had a little pep talk (1-2-3 “Like”).
“Thank you for sharing with our group last week,” wrote Daniels. “Your interaction with them was inspiring to them.”
The daughter (a high-school student) of a friend said that she would “become a boy and go back to middle school if it means I get paid to read books I like!” Of course, she doesn’t have to do that. I offered her the same deal.
My sister said it was a “great challenge,” and another friend said it was an “awesome incentive. Can’t wait to hear how they do!”
Well, Dylan gets the spotlight. He was the first, and so far, the only one, to follow through as instructed. It’s his book (“Tentacles” by Roland Smith) that Amazon informed me had been shipped. It’s about an expedition in search of a mythological giant squid. His choice doesn’t surprise me, as he said he wants to become a wildlife biologist.
So, if you are doing the math, the challenge involved earning $25. The second part of the challenge involved not using the work “like” for a full day with proof that they didn’t. If they passed the test, each would receive $5. In many instances during our conversation, a sentence was not finished without saying “like” multiple times.
So far, there is no proof the “like” challenge was completed.
Dylan, it is up to you to finish the challenge now. I know you will.
Nigel Alston lives in Winston-Salem. He can be reached at nalston1@triad.rr.com.
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