Owen Foote wants to make money without doing any real work. He complains about all the chores his mother wants him to do for only three dollars a week. His mother offers four dollars a week if he will add his bathroom to his chore list. Owen states that his bathroom is disgusting! Owen tries to get his dad to agree to let him bag 2,000 leaves for a penny per leaf. Owen and his best friend try to think of different ways to make money. They are unable to make any money from the jobs they come up with.
One day Mr. White, Owen’s neighbor, pulls up in his car to ask for advice about a backyard pond. Owen enjoys helping Mr. White and he works an entire day for free thinking he was just providing Mr. White with advice.
When he comes home after being paid twenty dollars, Owen is so excited that he makes a new agreement with his mother to do chores in exchange for money. Later that night, Owen’s dad has a heart to heart with Owen. He asks his son if it nice to buy things with his own money. When Owen describes his day as hard work, but fun, his dad explains that work does not feel like work when you are doing what you love. ( )