Thursday, January 29, 2009

More About Streets of Gold...

In my English chass, we were discussing myths about life in Canada, especially the common notion that everyone in Canada is rich and, figuratively or literally, streets here are paved with gold.

Then one lady laughingly told us this story.

Her cousins were new immigrants to Canada. Both had jobs and from time to time would send money home to their father. Then the younger brother lost his job, and was no longer able to send any home.

Why is your brother no longer sending us anything? the father asked the older brother on the phone.

Oh, he's very lazy, his brother joked. He sleeps late all the time. The government of Canada throws money on the streets every night, but you have to get up early to pick it up. By the time my brother gets up, the money has all been taken.

The next time the father spoke to his younger son on the phone, he chastised him.

What's this I hear about you sleeping late and not waking up in time to pick the government money up off the streets?

The younger son didn't know what his father was talking about and thought the old man was losing his mind!

No comments:

Post a Comment