Tricia Boulanger had been running her families sharpening business since her father died over ten years ago. In all that time, she had never had a request like the one she was getting from Julia Mulch. The Saber Sharp sharpening business's motto was “We sharpen anything”. Of course what they meant was things like knifes, saws, axes, lawn mower blades, things like that. That was understood by everyone who came to the shop. So Tricia was surprised at Julia's request.
    Julia walked into the shop one sunny morning and greeted Tricia. After exchanging pleasantries, she asked, “Is it true you sharpen anything?”
    “Of course!”, replied Tricia, looking around to see what Julia may have brought with her, but seeing nothing except for Julia's fourteen-year-old son, Kevin standing next to her. “so what would you like to have sharpened today?”
    “Him!”, replied Julia pointing to Kevin. “His teachers think he is hopeless and don't really try to teach him anything anymore. He never understands the lessons. When he has to make a decision about something, you can bet that if there are ten possible choices, he will choose the worse. Something has to be done.”
    Tricia was shocked! She couldn't believe what she was being asked to do, but never one to back down from a challenge, she decided to accept. “Very well Mrs. Mulch, I will sharpen him as best as I can. You will have to leave him with me for a few days though.”
    Three days later, Julia picked up Kevin. “How do I know if he is any sharper?”, she asked. 
    “Wait a few days and see.”, replied Tricia, “Pay me next week when you are sure.”
    Julia returned the next Monday all smiles and happy to pay Tricia. “He is doing much better in school”, she said, “He is making better choices and doing much better overall! How did you do it?”
    “It really wasn't that hard.”, Tricia answered, “First, I got him to wear blue and purple instead of always wearing the red shirts he likes so much. But the main thing was, I kept telling him how much smarter he was getting. At night, a tape player in his room played messages telling him he was smart and made good choices. He heard that message many times in three nights and that helped erase the many times people told him he was stupid, worthless, or made bad decisions. I believed in him and made him believe in himself, that all there was to it.”
    “Thank you so much and bless you!”, Julia replied with a tear in her eye as she handed Tricia a large roll of bills in payment.

It has been quite a while since I wrote one of these parable style short stories. I like writing them, but they don't seem to be that popular with my readers.