The Lazybones

When someone is very lazy, we often call him "lazybones". Young Tom was a real lazybones indeed. Why, right now his father was complaining about him!

"That boy!" said Mr Jones. "He's really lazy. He does nothing but laze about all day."

It was true. Tom didn't  care to go out and play with his friends. He didn't like to do his homework  or any odd jobs round the house either. After school he went straight to his room and lay down. After dinner he lazed about again till it was time for bed. And in the morning his mother had a hard time getting him out of bed. Poor Mr and Mrs Jones didn't know what to do with their lazy son.

Mr Jones owned a small bakery in town. He had only one helper, Bob; so he had to work very hard. He baked a hundred loaves each morning and Bob went around on a horse-cart to deliver them. Then Mr Jones baked biscuits and cakes to put in his shop-window. His cakes were delicious and many people came to buy from him. He was busy all day, but Tom did nothing to help.

One day Mr Jones told Tom to watch some cakes in the oven. Instead of watching the cakes, Tom fell asleep and the cakes were burnt. Mr Jones was furious! "Can't you do anything properly?" he scolded. "Why, you slept all day yesterday. I don't know how you can sleep any more!"

"Maybe" Tom's just used to being lazy," Mr Jones said. "Everyone says he's lazy, so he just stays that way."

Perhaps Mrs Jones was right. A few days later Mr Jones had a bad cold. The doctors said he had to stay in bed for a week. "My goodness, I can't!" Said Mr Jones. "What will happen to my shop?"

"Don't worry about the shop," said Mrs Jones. "Bob, Tom and I will look after it."

"Tom?" said Mrs Jones. "As if he would do anything to help!"

Although Mrs Jones looked cheerful, she felt worried about how she would manage. She could do the baking and tidy the house. Bob could still deliver the bread. But who could  cook the meals and look after Mr Jones?

"I know how  to bake," said Bob. "I've often watch Mr Jones baking. I can do that job. Then you'll be free to cook the meals and look after Mr Jones."

"But who will deliver the bread?" Asked Mrs Jones.

"Leave that to Tom," said Bob cheerfully.

"Tom stared at Bob. "That's hard work," he said.

"And I'll have to get up very early each morning."

"Well, somebody has to do it," said Mrs Jones firmly.

So, whether Tom liked  it or not, Bob woke him up at five every morning. together the boys  loaded the horse-cart with freshly-baked loaves. Then Tom went round to deliver the bread.

Of course the customers were very surprised to see him. You see, they all knew he was a lazybones. "What happened to bob?" they asked.

so Tom explained how Bob was baking because Mr Jones was ill. "And you're helping too by delivering the bread," the customers said. "Well done, Tom. I'm sure you parents must be very proud of you."

As the day passed, more and more people praised Tom. After a while Tom began to feel proud of himself too. Working wasn't so bad after all. In fact, it was quite pleasant to help one's parents and be praised for it. Can you guess what happened? Yes, from that day on, Tom stopped being a lazybones.