Waste

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It is the first day for Lawson at South Point School. He is in third
grade and has been allotted division 2. His mother walked him to his
classroom. After he had found a place to sit she left him to go home.
Lawson tried to make friends with the other boys. He noticed that they
were all carrying yellow bags. He wanted to ask them why, but then
decided against it. At the stroke of nine the school bell rang and the
class teacher walked in. He was a strict-looking person who wore
glasses. The whole class stood up and greeted him. He took out the
class register and began to read the names of the students. Lawson's
name was right at the end. He was asked to stand up and show his
belongings. Suddenly, the teacher became red with anger. He shouted at
Lawson, "Why are you carrying a black bag?" Lawson whispered "But it's
the only one I have." The teacher who was called Roger Sen scolded,
"From tomorrow you must bring a yellow bag. If you don't you will not
be allowed to attend class." Lawson did not know what to do. The next
day Roger Sen again asked Lawson to display his belongings. He was
still carrying the black bag with him. When Mr Sen asked him why he had
not yet bought a yellow bag Lawson said that his parents were not in
town and he was living alone. The next day he was asked again why he
was still using the black bag and he said that the bank was closed. Mr
Sen made Lawson kneel down for this. The next day was a Friday, the
last day of the school week. Lawson again came to school with the black
bag. This time his excuse was that no shop in the city had black bags.
Roger Sen was furious. Lawson was asked to stand outside class for one
whole period. Lawson went home but did not say anything to his parents.
Despite being very young he understood that it would be a waste to buy
a new, yellow bag since he already had a black one. Maybe Mr Sen could
be persuaded to allow him to use his favourite black bag. He had an
idea. The next day he came to school carrying his mother's yellow
vanity case. Mr Roger Sen entered the class as always at the stroke of
nine. Once again Lawson was asked to display his belongings. When he
saw the vanity case Mr Sen was very angry. He said to Lawson, "This
vanity case has no place in a classroom." Lawson shot back, "But it's a
yellow bag. You wanted me to bring a yellow bag. Here it is." The whole
class burst out laughing. Lawson's idea worked. Never again did Roger
Sen ask any of his pupils to bring yellow bags to school.