A teenage boy named Wesley asks his parents to pay him for chores around the house, but this request quickly becomes a lesson he will never forget.
Wesley pushes his plate away. “I’m sick of ground beef,” he complains. “Can’t you cook something different?” he asks his mother.
She looks at him disapprovingly. “Yesterday we had baked chicken, the day before hamburgers, and on Friday fish…” Wesley sighs in disappointment. “Yes, yes… whatever!” and gets up from the table.
“Wesley,” says his mother, “please wash your plate and put it in the dishwasher.”
“Why should I do that?” Wesley replies with typical teenage arrogance. “I’m not your slave!”
“Your slave?” his mother exclaims in scandal. “So what am I, helping you with all the housework?”
“You don’t pay me, do you?” Wesley replies with a triumphant smile. “Working for no pay is slavery!”
Wesley’s father turns serious. “We support you, son,” he says. “We provide shelter, food, clothing, and education…”
“It’s your duty, and I have a right to all of that!” Wesley says. “The law says you have to do it. I don’t have to do anything!”
Wesley’s mother goes pale. “I see! So we have obligations, and you only have rights? Is that what you think? And what about your duty to help and participate in the household chores?”
“I’m not your slave,” Wesley repeats arrogantly. “If you want me to do something, pay me!”
The mother stands up, but the father gently places a hand on her arm. “You want us to pay you?” she asks calmly. “And how much would you charge for housework?”
Wesley smiles with satisfaction. “I’ve thought about it. Taking out the garbage, $1; washing dishes, $2; walking the dog, $4; cleaning my room, $5; mowing the lawn, $10. And you’re fine with me not asking for back payments, too!”
“Never!” shouts the mother angrily, but the father continues to smile calmly.
“Okay, Wesley. We’ll pay you as you asked. From now on, you’ll be treated like a man.”
Wesley, swelling with pride, says, “It’s about time you treated me with respect!” And just as the mother is about to retort angrily, the father calms her with a gesture.
“Okay, son, let’s start tomorrow, okay? I’ll make a chart for your homework and you’ll write down what you’ve done each day. At the end of the week, say on Friday afternoon, you’ll get your money. Is that okay?”
Wesley beams. “Perfect, Dad!” He leaves the table as if he were the king of the world, unaware that he is about to experience one of the worst weeks of his life.
The family works together to improve their daily lives. Wesley’s mother turns to his father. „Rick, how could you do this? He’s disrespectful, lazy, and greedy. He needs to learn…”