It was Saturday morning, and Robin wanted to go to the show. There was a special movie for children that afternoon, at the theater downtown. Some of Robin's friends were going, and they called him on the telephone to see if he could go, too.
"Mommy," Robin asked his mother, "can I have two dollars and fifty cents for the show this afternoon? It says $2.50 in the paper, and I could with Bernie and Sarah Sara's big sister is taking them."
Robin's mother looked in her purse. "I'm afraid I have some bad news for you, Robin," she said. "I have only enough money to pay the milkman. We need milk today, and your father won't be home again until suppertime."
"It's not fair!" Robin cried, and he threw himself down in his father's big chair. "The other kids are going. They have money!"
"Maybe so," Robin's mother scolded, "but that is no way to act. We don't have money for everything. Your father works very hard for the money he gets, and does the best he can. There is never enough money for everything, Robin."
"Well, I want to go to the show, mommy. I never get anything!" Robin complained.
"Now, that's not true," said her mother. "Didn't your father buy you that toy airplane you wanted last week?"
"Yes," Robin agreed. "But I would like very much to go to the show, mommy." Robin looked very sad. He understood what his mother had told him, but he was still sad.
"Well," said his mother, "if you want to go to the show that badly, maybe you could earn the money. It might be worth a try."
"How can I do that?" Robin asked.
"Now, let's see," said his mother. "Two dollars and fifty cents is a lot of money, but you do have all morning. Maybe there is some work you could do for the neighbors - you might go to the store for somebody, take out the garbage or even mow someone's lawn."
"Okay!" Robin shouted. "Okay!" and he jumped up and ran out the door. His mother had a very good idea. He would earn the money himself. But after a little while, Robin came back home. He looked sadder than ever.
"It's not working," he told his mother. "All I could earn was fifty cents for taking out the garbage at Mr. Bill's. Some people are not home, and some people don't need any help, and some people don't have any money today either."
"Well, at least you tried," Robin's mother said. "And you do have fifty cents. You only need two more dollars for the show. Maybe you could try harder. Let us sit out on the front steps and see if we can hear "Mr. Opportunity"knocking. They say he is always knocking, if only you listen."
"What does that mean, mommy?" Robin asked.
"It means that there is always a way, Robin. If only you can find it. It is always there. But sometimes you have to look very hard to find that way - to hear Mr. Opportunity knocking."
Just then, along came Mr. Manny, the milkman. He looked very tired.
"You are late today," Robin's mother remarked.
"Yes," Mr. Manny said. "My helper, Jim, had to go to the dentist this morning and so I have to work all by myself. And I am getting behind."
Robin watched sadly as his mother gave Mr. Manny the money for the milk. But then he jumped up.
"Mommy, I hear Mr. Opportunity knocking!" And Robin's eyes were as big as silver dollars.
"Mr. Manny," Robin said excitedly, "do you need a boy to deliver the milk? I could run back and forth to the truck for you. "
"Well, yes I do," said Mr. Manny.
"And could you pay two dollars if I worked all morning?"
"Yes, yes I certainly could," said the milkman. "If it's alright with your mother, that is." Robin's mother was happy to say yes.
So Robin worked hard all morning and he earned his two dollars and he had enough money for the show. He was a little tired, and he didn't have any money left over for popcorn or candy, but that didn't matter. He had earned the money all by himself, and it was the best show he had ever seen.
When Robin's father came home that evening and heard the story, he was very pleased.
"Good work, Robin," his father said. "Mr. Opportunity is always knocking - if only you listen hard enough."
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The End, boys and girls - Sleep Tight & Good Night.
