This week’s Story Starter teaser is:
“Sometimes it hard to know the difference between...
a poor person and a rich one.”, Monty pondered as their Jeep slowed and stopped.
Immediately, 15 children came running all smiles and giggles to where he was.
He handed out lollipops to scrambling hands and squeals as he approached the main hut in the remote village. It was the only structure that had survived the brush fire unscathed.
The chieftain rose and extended his hand when he entered. His smile and body language was welcoming and warm.
Outside, the kids were now chasing a crudely sewn ball of fur with a stick and laughing. Two days before, a brush fire had nearly wiped them out.
Everyone stopped and cheered. Monty stepped into the beating sun as three men guided their 4 cows back into the village square. All had survived!
Moments later, several men were spotted carrying large bundles of sticks on their backs for new hut building, and repair, prompting another round of cheers that inspired a native dance party.
Monty suddenly had a flash back to the University riot he witnessed just before traveling abroad. A mob of students had broken all the classroom windows in a building where a biology professor had stated, “There’s only two genders.” . That professor barely escaped with his life under the mayhem, anger, and tears of outrage! Bricks were thrown by miserably unhappy students, who paid $60,000.00 a year to have the opportunity to be there, while claiming to be ‘oppressed’ and ‘endangered’ by mere words.
Monty was awakened back to reality when he felt a tug on his pant leg and looked into the eyes of a giggling, nearly toothless, 5 year old who was inviting him to join their dance. He decided exactly then, that wealth had not a THING to do with money.
Fandango’s Story Starter #5 – This, That, and The Other (fivedotoh.com)

I love the message in this wonderfully written story. Wealth is not in money but in happiness.
Absolutely, Mason! Thanks!
You’re welcome.
We forget that there is real suffering in the world, but those people rarely complain, and just get on with things.
Poverty and struggle is clearly the ‘human’ default condition if we take an Earthly head count. 😉
Thanks for commenting. I agree with you!
True. Wealth is not exactly about money
😀