Michael Lissack
by simplicity, it is doubtful that extracting a oneness from the multitude of possibilities is a fruitful long-run strategy. The following story from our friends Philip Kirby and David Hughes may illustrate what we mean: The playground is bustling with elementary school kids during recess. Ten-year-old Chad is showing off for a couple of friends. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a dime and a nickel. He looks back at his buddies and whispers, “Watch how stupid Dylan is.” Turning, he flashes a know-it- all grin at his brother’s innocent face. “Hey Dylan, which one of these coins do you want, the big one or the small one?” Dylan’s eyes ponder his choices for just a moment. “This one!” The little guy shoots out his hand, grabs the nickel, jams it in his pocket, and leaves the room. Chad triumphantly closes his hand on the dime, breaks into a smug smile, and turns for approval from his buddies. Both boys are in stitches. Chad stops chuckling long enough to say, “Is that stupid or what? And he does it every time. I can’t believe it - he always falls for it.” “He’s so stupid,” chimes in one of the buddies. A large shadow fills the doorway. The laughter is cut short. It’s Chad’s and Dylan’s father. “Chad, your brother is not stupid, and I don’t want you playing that trick on him again. Do you hear me?” He gets a guilty reply. “Yeah, okay. We’re just playing, Dad. Dylan doesn’t care. He likes it.” His father interjects sternly, “Well, I’ll have no more of it, and I’ll speak to Dylan, too.” He turns and heads for Dylan’s room. “Hi Dylan. How’re you doing,” “Hi Dad.” Dylan, sitting in the middle of his bedroom floor sur- rounded by LEGO blocks, hardly looks up. “Dylan, I want to explain something to you.” Lowering himself on to the floor, he leans back against the end of the bed. “Okay Dad.” The father then spends the next five minutes putting the value of nick- els and dimes into context for his son. Using pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, he shows his son that the size of the coin does not always represent
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