An old farmer was
working in his field one afternoon. It
was fairly hot, and the only sound was his older tractor. He heard a car on the gravel road. It was driving fast and kicking up a lot of
dust, but it slowed down as it got closer to him. The car came to a stop. The old farmer saw a young man get out of the
car and walk towards him. “Hey!” the
young man called out, “My family and I are moving to that town over the
hill. What’s it like?”
The old farmer looked at this rather sullen young
man. “What’s the town like you live in
now?” he asked.
“Pretty bad,” the young man snapped. “People are so backward. They are so cliquish. They don’t like me because I didn’t grow up
there. The police pick on people, the
taxes are too high, the teachers are not very good, there’s too much
gossip. We can’t wait to leave that
town.”
The old man said, “Well, son, I’m sorry, but that
little town over the hill is just like it.”
The young man walked away, dejected.
A while later, another car pulled up. This time a young woman got out and walked
into the field. “Hi!” she smiled, “Can I
ask you something?”
The old farmer was impressed with this young woman. She was pleasant and polite, and he liked her
even though he did not know her. Like
the young man earlier, she said she and her family were moving to the little
town over the hill. She wanted to know
what the new town was like.
As with the young man, the old farmer asked the
young woman what the town was like she lived in now.
The old farmer smiled and said to the young woman,
“Well, I have good news for you. That little town over the hill is just like it.”
“Well, I have good news for you. That little town over the hill is just like it.”
5 comments:
Perceptions butt up against reality a lot in my town.
Love it, Jo. Bottom line is absolutely that we take ourselves wherever we go.
What a coincidence -- our town is like that, too!
Can I borrow this?
I sure like this story!! I think I will use it in my classes!
Take care.
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