The boys had all grown up. They had studied in Mr Hurley’s class when they were thirteen years old. Now they all were working in different parts of the world. Mr Hurley looked at them with pride.
They had gone on to become doctors, lawyers , managers and owners of companies, hoteliers and what not! He remembered their mischief in class eight. They had decided to visit him to wish him for his birthday. What a kind thought! Thank God; he had cake and some other goodies for the boys.
He heard them chatting and laughing, sharing their experiences over the years after school. They had parted ways, going on to professional studies in different parts of the country. Each of them had been successful in his own way.
They seemed to be teasing Henty, who was a wild life photographer, and Jason, who had become a mountaineer. They were not so rich as some of the others, but they had chosen to do the work that they loved. Some of the conversation about how much they were earning drifted into the kitchen where Mr Hurley was making coffee for the boys.
“My boys have grown up into men,” thought Mr Hurley, “But they still are boys at heart. They wanted to compete at all times.”
Mr Hurley picked a tray up and began to set the mugs on it. He poured coffee into the cups and looked up to see Jason standing at the door.
“I’ll help you carry that,” offered Jason, picking up the tray. Mr Hurley followed with a plateful of cookies. The boys picked up a cup each and then Benson remarked, “Mr Hurley, you haven’t changed! All the cups are different!”
Everyone looked at his own cup and those that were held by the others. The cups did not match. The boys burst out laughing.
“Oh, well,” said Mr Hurley, “It’s the coffee that matters, boys, not the cups, isn’t it? How’s the coffee?”
The boys stopped laughing. They looked at old Mr Hurley seriously.
“No, you haven’t changed,” said Benson slowly, “You could always make us think when we were in your class. And that’s what you are doing still!”
Thirsk, now a rich hotelier, said, “You’re right, sir. It’s the coffee that matters, not the cups! Each of us works in a different field, but our values are still sound. The coffee is very good, sir!” Mr Hurley looked at his boys and smiled. “Yes,” he thought. The coffee was good, even though the cups were different!
Moral: Don’t judge people by their appearances.
