Mr. & Mrs. Wesley Owens are having a great time in their career as a sailor and bank manager but their only child seems to be having some problems of his own. The young Jason Owen grows up becoming a big concern for the parents and those around him. From incessant brawls to decreasing academic performance, he keeps getting worse by the day. All fervent efforts from his parents, school teachers and those around him to try making him better proves futile and by age ten, Jason is already tagged a menace in school that can never change from his bad ways.
He soon travels to go spend the summer holidays at Mrs. Susan's, a childhood friend of his mom who claims everyone deserves a chance to become a better person and capable of change. Jason however doesn't fail to show his recalcitrance in his new environment but unlike his parents back home who according to him "gives him attention only when he does something bad" Mrs. Susan treats him differently and talks about the most positive things he is capable of doing. After a month at Mrs. Susan, in what would be a shock to everyone, Jason comes back a changed person and completely transformed.
1. The story talks about the direct effects parental neglect can have on kids.
2. It as well highlights on the importance of patience and tolerance in dealing with children.
3. It also emphasizes on the dangers of keeping bad company.
4. The piece teaches that just like adults, children have a mind of theirs and wish to make choices too and their young age shouldn't be undermined all the time.
5. The work reiterates the importance of family and relevance of keeping close bonds with every member no matter the work schedules and other possible distractions.
6. It also highlights on the importance of good friends and sustaining good relationships over time.
7. It equally shuns prejudice of any form in dealing with people as we must understand that we all have one flaw or the other hence no one is perfect.
8. It presents story telling as a vital part of children's growth and how much they can learn from them.
Everybody deserves a second chance to redeem themselves and become better.
9. The story teaches us to be careful with words we say to people as they can go a long way to affect their self concept; either makes them feel better or a lot worse.
10. While it might happen differently and easy to some persons, others need help to improve on their behaviors and we should be kind enough to always lend a helping hand.
11. The story is equally a reminder that anyone is capable of positive change
