Chapter 37. Andy and the Monopoly Game. We must fix our minds upon immaterial things until we clearly perceive that these are no dreams; nay, all things are dreams and shadows beside them. Henry Scougal. Refrain from much business, and you will avoid sin. For those with a lot of business are preoccupied about their earthly affairs instead of serving the Lord. Hermas. It was the first day of summer vacation, and twelve-year-old Andy Dimwit was hoping to find a summer job.
Andy's father, Richard, worked for Applegate Realty selling houses and other properties. Many of the properties listed for sale were vacant. As a result, the grass grew tall in these yards unless someone regularly came and mowed them. When Andy's father came home at lunch that day, he called Andy into the living room. "Guess what? I asked Mr.
Applegate if it was okay to hire you to mow the yards of our vacant properties over the summer." "What did he say?" Andy asked eagerly, laying aside the book he had been reading. "He said he was willing to do it on a trial basis. We have a lawn that needs to be mowed right now. I'll be showing the house to some prospective buyers later today, so we need you to mow the lawn this afternoon. It should take you no more than two hours." "Sounds good," Andy replied excitedly. "How much will Mr.
Applegate pay?" "He'll pay you fifty dollars. The house is only a block away, so you can walk over there with the lawnmower after lunch." Pulling a slip of paper out of his shirt pocket, Andy's father continued, "Here's the address. You can't miss it, as there's a for sale sign in front of the house." Andy beamed. "That's wonderful, Dad. Thanks so much for asking Mr. Applegate for me. I'll get right over there after lunch." "Make sure you do," Andy's father warned. "I'm not sure what time the buyers are coming.
I think it'll be around six o'clock, but it could be as early as four." "Don't worry. You can count on me." "I'm sure I can. And if you do a good job on this one, Mr. Applegate will have a lot more mowing jobs for you. You'll be set for the summer." "Thanks so much, Dad," Andy replied, as he headed for the stairs. He added, "I'm going to change into my work clothes right now." Andy finished his lunch around one o'clock and said goodbye to his father, who was leaving. Andy's mom had already left to go shopping.
Andy himself was just starting out the front door when he saw his friend Tommy and a group of neighborhood boys coming up the front sidewalk. Tommy held a Monopoly game box under his arm. "Hi, Andy," Tommy called out. "Guess what? We've come over to play Monopoly." "Oh, no," Andy groaned. "I can't play this afternoon. I have to go mow a yard for my dad." "Aw, that's too bad," Tommy replied. "Are you sure you don't have time for just a quick game?
How long will it take you to mow the yard?" "Um," Andy thought for a moment. "It'll take me a couple of hours, but my dad probably won't be showing it until six this evening. I guess we have time for a quick game. Come on in." The boys followed Andy into the living room, and they sprawled out on the floor. "I'll be the banker," called out Frank, a red-headed boy a couple of years younger than Andy. Before long, the boys were into the game.
They all ended up with fairly evenly matched properties, so the game moved slowly. Andy kept glancing nervously at the clock on the living room wall. At two o'clock, he announced, "Listen, I'm sorry, guys. I hate to quit in the middle of the game, but I've really got to go mow that yard now." "What? You can't quit now. The game is just getting interesting," one of the boys protested. The others joined in.
"Well, okay," Andy muttered, "but thirty minutes more at the max." The boys assured him it would be over within thirty minutes. Andy eventually ended up with Boardwalk and Park Place, plus three of the railroads. With these properties, he slowly gained on the other boys. Before long, he was so engrossed in the game that he didn't notice the time. Two thirty passed, then three. When three thirty rolled around, only Andy and two other boys were left in the game.
By four o'clock, Andy had picked up another Monopoly and some other valuable properties. He and Tommy were the only players left. Suddenly, the front door flung open, startling the boys. Andy's father stood in the doorway, glaring at Andy. Andy glanced at the clock and saw that it was four thirty. "Oh, I forgot the time," Andy blurted out. "Don't worry, Dad. I'm leaving right now. I'll have it mowed by six." "I'm afraid it's too late," Andy's dad countered solemnly.
"The people wanted to see it at four, and I've just come back from there. The overgrown lawn didn't make a very good impression, and they decided not to buy the house." "Aw, I'm sorry, Dad," Andy offered quietly. "Don't worry. It won't happen next time." "I'm afraid there won't be a next time," Andy. When he heard what happened, Mr. Applegate decided to give the summer mowing jobs to his nephew, Fred. Because of some silly game, he just threw away a golden opportunity to earn some real money this summer.
"But Dad," Andy protested, picking up his Monopoly money in both hands and showing it to his father. "Look, I've won over eight thousand dollars. Plus, I own Boardwalk and Park Place, with a hotel on each one."