My son, the years have passed by and you are now well into your late teens.
In a few months time, you will be eighteen years old and in most parts of the world you will be regarded as a grown adult and made to take responsibility for your actions.
Through the years, I have insisted that you are proper in your conduct and dress code; greet people politely, no shaking of your legs endlessly while seated, no flying of shirt tails, no cap facing the wrong way round, no sagging, and to use your own words, the list is endless.
My son, the list may be endless as per your viewpoint, but let me tell you a story, which will bring home my reason for this endless emphasis on proper conduct and dress code.
A long time ago, a king was travelling to a far country on a visit. His personal servant approached him and asked him for a favour. “Your Majesty, you know that I have served you loyally all these years.”
“Very true” the king concurred.
“I want to ask you for a favour,” said the servant.
“Go ahead,” the king responded.
“As I accompany you on this journey we are about to embark, I ask of you not to introduce me as a servant but to accord me the courtesies due a prince of the realm.”
“No problem, “ said the king, “I will not tell anyone you are my servant if you do not tell them yourself.”
So they embarked on the journey. At the state dinner in honour of the king, the servant was invited along on the assumption that he was a prince.
As dinner was served, the servant was overwhelmed by the assortment of delicious dishes laid out in honour of the king and started stuffing his mouth with so much food and packing some into his pouch.
One of the guards approached him and politely escorted him out of the banquet hall.
Later, after the dinner and the king had retired to his quarters, the servant approached him and said, “Your Majesty, you promised not to tell anyone that I am your servant.”
“Very true.” Said the King. “I kept my word.”
“So, why was I escorted out of the banquet hall by a guard?” the servant asked
“It was you who announced your station so clearly that you had to be escorted out.” The king replied.
My son, make no mistake about it, your conduct will always give away your pedigree.
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