Fables — Page 189

The Go-Getter And The Procrastinator

Nicholas, 12, California

The moral of my fable: Get your work done early so you don’t have to stress out later.

In an ordinary town of Pear Valley we look at two teenage snails.  Their names are Tommy and Robert. They both are sixteen years old and go to Pear Valley High School.

Monday morning rolls around and they both head off to Mr. Jones first period English class. The students get themselves situated in their seats. The teacher walks up to the front of the class and says, “We’re going to have a final project. It is going to count for 50% of your grade.” Everybody in the classroom was listening to Mr. Jones. Then he said, “This project is a book report. You have a week to do it.”

The class ended and everybody went home. The Snail friends walked home from the bus stop together and chatted about their upcoming project. They soon veer off in their own directions.

Tommy is a go-getter and started on his project immediately. He worked diligently for two hours a night to get it done. He reads the long book and takes notes for the first two days. He spends the next three days writing his report. Tommy finished his report with a couple of days to spare. Leaving Tommy the whole weekend to play Ghosts and Ghouls.

Robert thought to himself as he was walking home, “I have plenty of time to finish this report”. So he procrastinated all week long. The day before the project was due Robert stayed up all night to complete it. He frantically worked through the night drinking bitter tasting coffee and Nasty Red Bull to keep him awake.

When morning arrived he tiredly put his work into his backpack and headed off to school. When in the classroom, Mr. Jones, asks the students to bring up their work. Tommy walked up proudly and set his nicely done work on the teachers desk. Robert, however, walks with his head hanging low and places his wrinkled up, coffee stained paper down.

Mr. Jones finished grading all the work. He walked around the classroom handing everybody back their project. He places Tommy and Robert’s work on their desks. They turn their papers over and Tommy  smiles as he sees an “A+,  Job Well Done!!!“. Robert turns his paper over and frowns as he sees his “F, TRY BETTER NEXT TIME” in big red letters.