Two old ladies, Dolly and Ruby, sat on a cozy park bench, enjoying the warm sunshine and a lively chat about their grandchildren. Dolly, with her rosy cheeks and mischievous eyes, began the conversation with a twinkle in her voice.
“You know, Ruby,” Dolly began, “each year, I send each of my grandchildren a card with a generous cheque inside. I never hear from them, neither receive a thank you!”
Ruby, a silver-haired lady with a gentle smile, nodded in understanding. “Oh, dear. That’s not right, Dolly. Gratitude should always be appreciated,” she said.
“Oh, but I’ve found a way to change that!” Dolly said, her grin widening. “This year, I came up with a brilliant plan. I decided to teach them a little lesson in politeness and manners!”
Intrigued, Ruby leaned closer, eager to hear what Dolly had in mind.
“I wrote each of my grandchildren a letter, pretending to be a government tax official,” Dolly chuckled. “I told them that their ‘Annual Manners Tax’ was due and asked them to promptly send a ‘Thank You Note’ to avoid any penalties!”
Ruby burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh, Dolly, that’s both hilarious and clever! And what happened next?”
Dolly’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Well, Ruby, you won’t believe it! The very next day, my mailbox was flooded with thank-you notes from all my grandchildren! They were full of gratitude and appreciation, assuring me they had ‘paid’ their manners tax in full!”
