Investing in Stock

"Abuela, please, please," Tony begged, swivelling from his seat on the floor in front of the television towards her. "See that jacket on the commercial? That's the one I want, the one I have been talking about. I want it when we go buy clothes."

Maria glanced up long enough to identify a teenager dancing across the screen in a dark blue corduroy jacket, tipping a hat to a table of adolescent girls who blew kisses as he swung by them.

"Absolutely not," she replied with finality, then adjusted her glasses to once again focus upon the sewing in front of her.

Not prepared to accept a refusal, Tony puffed out his lip and scooted on his knees over to her chair. Grabbing the armrest he pulled himself up, then worked himself into her lap.

Maria adjusted her position to accommodate him, and leaned down to brush back his bangs and kiss his forehead. Tony was her baby.

"When this show finishes it will be your bedtime," she announced, laying her sewing on the side table. "You will have a good night's sleep."

He reiterated his purpose. "When we go clothes shopping I only want that jacket, Abuela, the one that just came on the television. I will look good wearing that one, and you said I needed a coat. We don't have to even get me any more clothes at all, just that one that I like."

His expanded audience took note of the pleading quality he adopted, along with the fact that he offered to relinquish future ties to additional clothing.

His father, NCIS Special Agent Jethro Gibbs, raised his eyebrows. Tony took great pride in his appearance, and considered his clothing crucial to his well being, unlike his parent.

Maria began to rock slowly and reinforced her decision by rationalizing. "That jacket is not for nine year olds, Bambino. It goes for teenagers. No es apropriado. It is not appropriate for you at all. We will choose one which better suits you."

Tony took exception to her argument and sat up straight to contradict spiritedly, "What are you talking about? Abuela, it will look fantastic on me!"

Maria nodded but did not respond for several seconds. "You will also look great in another jacket besides that one. I told you we will not purchase the one from the commercial. It is too expensive for a little boy and meant for someone much older."

Tony scowled and puffed his lip into a pout, far from satisfied with the detailed enlightenment. "Then I will not wear any other jacket we buy and I will just freeze to death. When anybody asks I will say my abuela did not want me to be warm."

Maria regarded him. "Again, this one is not the one for you. It costs too much, and is for teenagers to wear. You are only nine."

Tony's frustration intensified at her impenetrable lack of cooperation, and he raised his voice for attention, "You are unfair, Abuela, and you just don't want me to be happy! Everybody else's grandmamma wants them to look good and have nice clothes."

That produced an impact.

Grasping his arm, she turned him to face her and demanded, "Look at me at once! Mirame a mi!"

Realizing he teetered on the brink of serious trouble, Tony obeyed, and wisely did not offer a comment.

"If you speak in that tone again you will find yourself with a punishment. You do not speak disrespectfully to adults. Now, about the coat, I have said no, and that is what I meant. We have finished discussing it. Comprende?"

Tony scratched a mosquito bite on his leg and mumbled, "Comprendo, I understand."

"Good," Maria kissed the top of his head once again and located her needle and thread to resume her sewing.

"But I don't like it, though," Tony conceded ungraciously.

Jethro and Jackson, who had silently witnessed the exchange, raised their eyebrows at each other.

The fact that clothing meant that much to Tony never ceased to baffle the two. He possessed a fashion flair neither shared.

Jethro shrugged his shoulders at his dad, and Jackson shook his head to admit that he could not fathom that his grandson remained so concerned with style.

To the relief of both men, however, Tony also showed a passion for athletics and displayed quite a talent for several sports. Though neither would admit it, they did breathe a sigh that no one would ever accuse the child of being prissy.

The little boy, however, did not intend to give up his mission without more of a fight. Luckily, that night as Tony lay in bed he analyzed one possible strategy after another to win Maria to his way of thinking about the coveted, simply had to have, coat. He came up with several good ones, but finally decided that the best approach would target two of his abuela's top priorities for him- his manners, and his responsibility to his chores.

The next morning blazed new and glorious in their vacation home outside of Campeche, Mexico, and the instant Tony opened his eyes, he remembered his decision to woo his grandmother to his way of thinking.

He slid out of his bed quickly, used the bathroom, brushed his teeth and dressed, all without alerting anyone that he had wakened. Working meticulously to make sure the covers did not bunch, he made his bed and hurriedly straightened his room.

Normally both chores ranked in his list of those to avoid at all costs.

He scrutinized the area the way his grandmother would.

He made a couple of adjustments to his work.

Satisfied finally, he headed to the kitchen and breakfast, singing out good morning greetings as he approached.

Jack stood at the stove talking animatedly as he tended a frying pan stuffed with ham slices and sausage patties. At the counter by the sink Maria squeezed fresh oranges for the family's juice, and Jethro sat hidden behind an open newspaper at the table.

Tony hurried over to his abuela and wrapped an arm around her legs as a hug. Laughing delightedly, she bade him good morning and leaned down to kiss him.

He greeted Jack next. His grandfather rubbed his hand down his grandson's back, then tousled his hair.

Jethro set the newspaper down and held out his arms. Tony hurried over and his dad pulled him into his lap and kissed the top of his head, bouncing him gently as he embraced him.

The little boy took meticulous, painstaking care at breakfast, making sure that he used his napkin as needed, did not smack as he ate, and complimented the cooks. He excused himself when he finished his breakfast, then hurriedly began clearing the empty dishes without a reminder.

His grandfather commented upon his work with several praises, and Tony grinned happily, knowing Maria would not fail to notice.