How to get what you want

A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a
junior high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment.

Then a new school year began. The very next afternoon three
young boys full of youthful after-school enthusiasm came down his street beating merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashing percussion（打击乐） continued day after day, until finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some action.

The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. Stopping them, he said, "You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance（健康活力） like that. I used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I'll give you each a dollar if you'll promise to come around every day and do your thing."

The kids were elated （兴高采烈的）and continued to do a bang-up job on the trash cans. A few days later, the wily （老谋深算的）retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street. "Look" he said. "I haven't received my Social Security (Pension) check yet,
so I'm not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents.
Will that be okay?"

"A lousy quarter?" the drum leader exclaimed. "If you think
we're going to waste our time beating these cans around for a quarter, you're nuts! No way, mister. We quit!"

And the old man enjoyed peace and serenity （宁静）for the rest of his days.