"What do you plan to do with this season's windfall?" asked his Dad.
Andrew thought for a minute, "Maybe I'll take us all on vacation. How about Disney World?”
His Dad chuckled and opened his newspaper. Even he couldn't believe how his 10-year-old son had turned a funny observation into a moneymaking venture.
Andrew and his Dad had been driving through their neighborhood on the way home from a hockey game. His Dad tried to take him to a game once a week but there was never enough money for T-shirts or any memorabilia. His Dad wasn't rich.
On this particular day, Andrew had noticed that many houses along the route home had newspapers piling up on their front lawns, porches and driveways.
"How come people leave their newspapers outside in the snow to get ruined like that? What a waste of money."
His father looked to one side of the street and then the other.
"Well, that house over there is where Sal the plumber lives. He's in Florida with his family and I wish he'd get home soon because our water heater is still leaking."
Andrew pondered his Dad's words. When they turned onto their street he noticed the house on the left had newspapers piled up at the end of their driveway.
"Look!" exclaimed Andrew, "Carly's family is in California! Wow, I'll bet everybody is someplace else—that’s why they're piling up!"
His Dad agreed as they pulled into their driveway.
"I got an idea!” said Andrew with excitement. “Yep, I got a great idea!"
He hopped on his bicycle and rode all over the neighborhood, writing down all the addresses that had newspapers piled outside. With the help of his parents, he contacted everyone on the list and convinced them to hire him as their "away paperboy." Instead of delivering their newspapers he would be taking them away.
"That's a great idea!" they told him. "No need for us to broadcast that we're not home for a few days. Thanks Andrew!"
His Dad looked up from his morning newspaper, "How would you like to go to a hockey game this weekend son?"
"Well, I've got every T-shirt from every hockey team that's played here this season." he deliberated. "How about we hit the basketball scene? I'll even buy you a shirt."
He looked inside his newly purchased wallet. "It's school vacation and I'm loaded!"
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Copyright 2011 by Janet Cipolli. All Rights Reserved.
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