SIDE THOUGHTS - A Lesson Learned While Returning a Video

Last week, we went to the library to return some videos that we had borrowed. As we were getting out of the minivan to put the videos in the VIDEO RETURN slot, my 7-yr old noticed that one of the tapes was not rewound and said,

“Mom, it says ‘PLEASE REWIND TAPE’ right there on the video. We cannot return it without rewinding it first.”

I looked at the video. He was right, it was not rewind – we had forgotten to rewind it. It was too late to go back home. We had to go pick up his younger brother from school in 30 minutes and we were running late. The video was due back today. Late fee is $1 per day. I was silent as I starred at the “PLEASE REWIND TAPE” in bold red letters across the video.

“Hmm,” I said.

“We can’t return it without rewinding it first,” my son repeated.

“Yes, but it is due back today and we don’t have time to go back home to rewind it. And we don’t have any time to return it later tonight.”

“But we can’t return it without rewinding it first. It says to rewind right there on the video,” my son answered.

“Yes, I know.” I was silent again. I was searching my brain for a good solution because I knew my integrity was being tested.

“We can’t return it without rewinding it,” he repeated again with complete certainly on his face.

“Yes, I see that. But we are running late and the video is due today. What should we do?”

“I don’t know,” he said.

We sat there for a few minutes. I looked at my watch. If we didn’t leave right now, we would be late picking up his younger brother.

“Well, I am not sure what we should do,” I said. I was speaking my thoughts out loud.

“Let’s write them a note.”

“A note?” I said blankly.

“Yeah, let’s write a note saying that we are sorry that we did not rewind the tape.”

“And put the note with the video?” I asked.

“Yeah, we can just tape the note to the video.”

“We don’t have any tape in the car.”

“We can just put the note inside the video container. That will work.”

I found a piece of an old receipt paper and on back of it, I scribbled an apology note and tucked it inside the video container with the video.

“Okay?” I asked as I showed him the finished result.

“Okay,” he nodded.

I ran out of the car and put the video in the AUDIO/VISUAL RETURN slot in front of the library.

I ran back to the car and said, “Let’s go. We are running late.”

“Okay,” he said and strapped on his seatbelt.

As we drove off, I looked at him in the rear view mirror. He was singing a song he learned at school and was looking outside his car window as if the incident was already forgotten. Of course I will never forgot it. I had come very close to losing my integrity in front of my son. Thanks to him, I didn’t.