The Lazy Man Goes to Bed Hungry: A Short Story

Tic-toc, tic-toc, tic-toc, tic-toc BRRRIIINNNGGG. Elizabeth opens her eyes and fumbles around for the snooze button on her alarm clock, desperately hoping it was not time to awaken yet. Her sleepy gaze reaches the clock only to discover that it is 10am and she has been in a deep slumber for the past eleven hours. She stumbles out of bed and down the hall to the kitchen where her mom left a hot plate of food, and a note stating that the rest of the family was out working in the garden if she wanted to join.

Elizabeth eagerly inhaled the food, so carefully prepared by her mother, and then went to get dressed for the day. She selected her favorite yellow t-shirt that had been covered in mud yesterday and a fresh pair of newly pressed pants. Her sneakers were neatly displayed in her closet along with her sports equipment from high school, and trophies from her successes.

Her mind escaped for a moment as she thought back on the past 4 years of her life realizing all the great things she had accomplished. After all, she was Elizabeth Burgress, star player on the soccer team, adored by her teachers, and admired by her peers. She gave a deep sigh as she realized that it was over. All her hard work in school, athletics, and keeping up with her image had paid off. She was finished and had reached her goal of greatness. Now she could live life however she wanted.

Elizabeth excitedly planed out her day of nothingness including sleeping, TV binge watching, perhaps some social media, and video games. She repeated this routine day after day, relishing every moment of freedom and enjoying her lack of responsibilities. Weeks passed, and gradually Elizabeth started wishing for even more freedom. She longed to have her own apartment and live on her own completely free from her parents controlling ways. The only thing she had to do now was convince her parents to agree and this, she knew, would not be a simple task.

The next evening Elizabeth sat both her parents down and proposed her amazing idea. Surprisingly, her parents both agreed and actually encouraged her endeavor. The last thing her mother said before ending the conversation was “remember, the lazy man goes to bed hungry”. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and said mom, you have been telling that story ever since I was young, I don’t even understand what it means. Her mom just smiled and said “all in due time my dear, all in due time.”

The next weeks were spent securing an apartment and finally, it was move in day. Elizabeth unpacked and began to get settled for her first night of freedom in her own space. She eagerly awoke the next morning to start the job search, confident that she would find the perfect job. As the days progressed, Elizabeth became discouraged and lost motivation, slipping back into her old daily habits of nothingness.

  A few weeks passed and there she was, sitting all alone in her dirty apartment, with no job, little money, and limited food. All that consumed her thoughts was that little story her mother told her when she was child, “the lazy man goes to bed hungry”.  Elizabeth now understood what this meant, and also that great freedom requires great responsibility. From that day on, Elizabeth worked as hard as one could, knowing that not one minute could be wasted and she never took freedom for granted again.

Now, Elizabeth is a young mother, and every night her children beg to hear the story about the lazy man who goes to bed hungry. Every night, she would repeat the tale, thinking back on the wise words from her mother, and praying that her children would someday, understand the message, just as she had. 

Until Next Time, 

K.L.E