JUST 1 MORE MINUTE!

Penelope was a good student of Class 6. The teachers of her class were also very fond of her. But Penelope had one bad habit. Whenever she was asked to do something, she would take undue time to accomplish it and during all that time her excuse would be: just 1 more minute!

  In the morning when her mother woke her up, she would say, “Just 1 more minute.” Then she would doze off again for an hour or so. It was because of this reason that she was always late for school.

  The teachers found this habit very irritating. But since she was a good student, they did not scold her much.

  One day, Penelope’s class teacher said to her, “You are a good student. But if you don’t stop your habit of saying 1 minute, you will regret it one day.”

  Penelope, no doubt, listened to her teacher, but she did not stop her routine.

  During recess when her friends asked her to join for a game, she would keep them waiting by uttering those dubious words.

  Penelope was scolded for this habit not only at school but also at home.

Once, some guests were invited to come to Penelope’s house. Her mother asked her to get some sweets from the market.

  “I’ll be back in just 1-minute mom.” Saying this, Penelope hurried out of the house. As usual, it took her 1 hour to reach back home with the sweets. By that time, the guests had already left. At this, her mother lectured her very much.

  One day the teacher said that all those who wanted to go on the picnic trip on Saturday would have to deposit ₹500.

  Back home Penelope said to her father, “Our whole class is going for a picnic this Saturday dad. So, could you give me ₹500?”

  “All right,” her father answered. “I’ll give the money the day you go there.”

  Penelope was very excited at the prospect of going on a picnic. She had already dreamt of enjoying herself with all her friends. Finally, when the day arrived, Penelope’s parents wanted to teach her the value of time. They wanted to get rid of her laziness forever.

  Penelope had to reach her school at 8 in the morning, and she woke up late as she always did. Her mother did not prepare anything for her breakfast. Penelope grew furious. “Mom, I’m getting late. Pack my lunch. I will miss my bus and I won’t be able to go to the picnic!”

  “Just 1 more minute, daughter. Your father will drop you at school by his bike,” her mom answered calmly. 

  It was only at 8.30 that Penelope somehow managed to get her lunch pack ready. She asked her father to drop her by his bike.

  “Just 1 more minute . . .  I will soon get ready.”

  After about 5 minutes, her father drove her to school. On the way, he stopped in front of a retail shop and asked the shopkeeper for the change of ₹2000. The impatient Penelope almost screamed out at this. “Dad, we’re already late, and you’ve stopped again. I will miss my bus to the picnic.”

  “Just 1 more minute . . . we’ll soon reach there.”

  By the time Penelope reached school, the bus had already gone. Maddened, she threw down all her things. “I couldn’t go to the picnic because of your 1 minute. Just because of you!” she complained in a choked voice.

  After a while, both Penelope and her father reached home. Her mother said, “Now have you realized the consequences of telling ‘just 1 more minute’?”

  Penelope understood her folly. She decided that from now on, she would delay things on the pretext of just 1 more minute! 

Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of my imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or persons is entirely coincidental. || Contents of this story should not be reproduced in any manner without permission.