You drop a coin in a slot. What do you get for it? Is it worth the cost?

 

Your whole life you save for the future, for you believe . . .

 

 

Money Matters

 

     This is a story about two men who made cents in many ways. They met in the third grade in an elementary school on the Lower East Side of New York. Living in a working class neighborhood, they came from families that toiled from dawn to dusk to provide for them. Wealth was a distant dream, but coins characterized their upbringing.

     Each had a piggy bank stowed in his closet. For each good deed performed at home or in school, they were rewarded with change from their parents’ worn pockets. These benefits would quickly find a place in their banks.

     Years passed and the bond between the two became stronger. Change characterized their lives and their partnership remained solid. To coin a phrase, “If you find it in the road, pick it up and keep it, for a penny saved is a penny earned.” And both did.

     Joined at the hip, they worked hard to achieve their dreams. They were frugal and saved their earnings from working for financial firms, as money managers. With these savings, they went to work for themselves and purchased a building to house their business. The sign on the building read, “Nickels and Dimes Corporation—Helping You To Make Your Dreams Come True.” The proud owners of this impressive structure were Frederick Ford Nickels and Martin Austin Dimes, financiers of note.

     One bright sunny day in early April, twelve days away from when their taxes had to be submitted, the road became bumpy. Although the business appeared to be running smoothly, something didn’t seem right.

     Nickels looked at Dimes, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “We’ve got to undo what has happened.”

     “But how?” Dimes replied.

     “Change. We need change.”

     “Okay, maybe we do, but what are you suggesting?” Dimes asked.

     “Quarters,” Nickels replied.

     “Quarters? What are you saying?” Dimes queried.

     “The brothers.”

     “Are you serious?”

     “Yes, very much so.”

     “Are you talking about all four?” Dimes questioned.

     “They are the ‘one,’” Nickels said, convinced this was the way to go.

     “But will they be open to joining our team? They’re our competitors, after all.”

     “They’ve wanted to be a part of our world for a while. But it hasn’t been to our advantage to invite them in. Now it is.”

     “You know they’ll turn us down, unless they’re in control.”

     “No, they’re not going to ‘buck’ our offer,” Nickels stated.

     “All right. Do it,” Dimes said.

     Nickels reached for the phone and dialed the number of “The Quarters Financial Group.” It rang and rang. It appeared nobody was going to answer. Just as he was about to hang up, a pleasant, melodious voice sung out, “The Quarters Financial Group. How can I help you?”

     “I’d like to speak to Robin Quarters, if he’s available. If he isn’t, connect me with one of the other brothers, please.”

     “I believe Robin can take your call,” the voice chimed.

     Nickels waited patiently. And then, a strong, prosperous sounding man stated, “This is Robin Quarters, how might I make your life better for you.”

     “Robin, this is Frederick Nichols. I was wondering if my partner, Martin Dimes, and I might meet with you and your brothers, some time this week or early next week.”

     The silence on the other end of the phone was deafening. Then laughter rose to a level that was overwhelming.

     “Robin, did you hear me?” I asked.

     “Hear you? Yes. Do I want to talk to you. Not on your life.”

     “But Robin, I have a proposal I’d like to share with you.”

     “Unless you’re asking for my daughters hand in marriage, I’m not interested. I’ve been waiting for this call, so I could treat you with the disrespect you’ve given my brothers and me for years. And now that miserable treatment is going to cost you.”

     “But . . .”

     “You’re a day late and a ‘dollar’ short. And, the ‘buck’ stops here. May you do well in your economic hell. Good-bye, my friend.”

     The line went dead. Stunned by Quarters’ response, I stared at Dimes, with a blank expression on my face, and whimpered, “This doesn’t make any cents.”

 

 

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