How To Compensate A Friend

A Monkey and a Turtle were looking into starting a college scholarship fund for the Turtle’s nephew. The Turtle, Myrtle, had no children of her own and figured this would be a good way to make an impact on the next generation and give someone with her genes a leg up in the future.

The Monkey, an investment advisor named Ram, was setting up the scholarship fund using his knowledge of investment products and the market. It’s important to have someone like Ram in your corner, making investments and understanding the markets can sometimes be really hard on your own.

Since Myrtle was Ram’s friend, he decided to waive his typical fees when setting something like this up. And while Myrtle appreciated this, it also made her uncomfortable. She didn’t want Ram to feel like she was taking advantage of him. Or that she came to him specifically because she knew that he would waive his fees. She wanted to compensate Ram for what he did but wasn’t sure what to do.

Myrtle figured she could bake Ram some cookies, or invite him over to dinner or even paint a picture of Ram for his office which she noticed lacked decoration during her appointment. But none of these really felt like they fully repaid what Ram had chosen to waive.

Meanwhile, Ram was happy to have waived the fee for Myrtle. He never gave it a second thought. Myrtle was Ram’s friend and she was doing something selfless for her nephew. Ram considered this just a basic tenant of friendship.

Myrtle kept racking her brain and racking her brain. Surely something would come to her. Something would make sense to her.

Then it hit her all at once. You don’t compensate friends. You thank them. You show them your appreciation. Compensation is a made-up word meant to keep distance between one another.

Myrtle called Ram up and asked if he was busy this Saturday. Ram was not. Myrtle told him to meet her at the park at 2:00 PM

“Should I bring anything?” Ram asked.

“Absolutely not,” Myrtle replied in a friendly tone.

Myrtle started making arrangements for Saturday. She called all of Ram’s friends and told them to join her at the park at 1:30 PM. Myrtle had explained to everyone that Ram had done something nice for her and she wanted to return the favor. As she was explaining this to everyone stories of other nice things Ram had done for all his friends began coming out. Soon everyone realized that Ram was well overdue a day of appreciation. Everyone was excited to pitch in.

Some of his friends made cookies, some made food, some organized games, and some made drink runs for soda, pop, juice, water wine, and beer. Myrtle got out her paints and made a huge sign that said:

“We All Appreciate Ram!”

On Saturday all of Ram’s friends gathered in the park under Myrtle’s huge sign. They were all giddy with excitement. Ready to show Ram how much they appreciated him.

When Ram arrived he looked at the sign and all his friends gathered together. He couldn’t believe what was happening.

“All of this, for me?” Ram looked around, shocked, “But why?”

You’ve done favors or done something nice for everyone here. We just wanted to thank you.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do this at all!” Ram was overcome with emotion. “I am just a humble investment advisor and I only do that so I can’t help all my friends out.”

Ram was very moved. He thoroughly enjoyed what all his friends had done for them. He ate and drank and enjoyed everyone’s company. When the celebration ended he returned to his home. He felt very full of love and also food and pop and even a beer or two. He felt like everything he had been doing on earth was worth it. To have others want to show him, such love.

He then started thinking of ways to pay them all back.