Plan B 127“Oh, there must be a way to solve this problem,” he
prodded. “We’ve had tougher problems than this be-
fore. Let’s think,” the father encouraged.
“How ’bout I do my homework on the register to-
night and at the kitchen table tomorrow night?” vol-
unteered Helen.
“Well, that’s an idea, but your papers would still be
scattered all over the floor tonight,” said the father.
“Can you think of some other way for us both to be
happy?”
“No, that’s it!” Helen responded.
“There has to be some way for you to not be cold
and for the papers not to be scattered all over the
floor,” the father said. “I have some ideas. Would you
like to hear them?”
“Uhm...OK.”
“We could turn up the heat so you wouldn’t be
cold...or you could put on a sweater...or we could
find some way for your papers not to be scattered all
over the floor. Any of those ideas work for you?”
“I think we should turn up the heat,” said Helen.
“So we’ll turn up the heat so you won’t be cold,
and then you won’t need to sit on the register?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want me to help you move your things?”
“No, just go turn up the heat,” said Helen.
“You did a very nice job of working things out,”
said the father.