My brother and sister-in-law are big-time World of Warcraft fans and recently gifted my 13 year-old with 6 months of game time. Considering my son has been BEHHHHHHHHHHHH-ging us for a subscription (it's free to play up to level 20 or something, which is like 5 minutes to a 13 year-old) inviting him into their guild effectively up-ped my brother's and sister-in-law's wow-factor by a hefty:
"WOW, you guys are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, AWWWWWWWWWWWESOME!"
Yeah, as if they needed any help in THAT department.
Aaaaaaanyway, my son has been hinting at an expansion pack for WoW, for a couple of weeks now, and mentioned it again on the way home from the pediatrician's on Tuesday.
"I know, Mists of Pandaria, it was released today."
What?!? I read Game Informer.
"You could add it to your Christmas or birthday list."
Aaaaaaand, my coolness factor dropped by an unsurprising: "UGH! You ALWAYS say that!" He's got about half the money saved from his grass-cutting earnings (we got a lot of grass, don't judge) but, I would not loan him the other half, yeah I'm mean like that.
Then the inevitable happened.
"What if I do extra chores around the house?"
Oh, I know that there are folks who feel you shouldn't pay your kids to do chores around the house and, in theory, I totally agree.
I also believe selective hearing is a terrible thing and may be…no, wait…MOST DEFINITELY IS…my undoing.
"Go…up…wet…from…the floor!"
[blank stare]
"I said…pick…the…towels…off!"
[sound of crickets chirping]
Long story, short (you're welcome!) I'm tired (not to mention, sick of stepping over wet towels) so I agreed to loan him the other half of the cost (stupid expansion packs) in exchange for housecleaning services and suggested that perhaps it would be a good idea if we put something in writing.
"I'll draw up a contract as soon as we get home!"
Aaaaaaand, he did:
Morale of the Story: What is it with him and leaving wet towels on the floor?!?
WOW! I was thinking along the lines of 2 weeks. Perhaps I should have my 13yo negogiate ALL of my contracts. For a small fee, of course. Now, if he would just put AS MUCH effort into pre-algebra, we'd probably have his college tuition paid for by now, right?!?
Stupid expansion packs, dumbass World of Warcraft.
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