【明報專訊】John was an extremely rich man who led a lavish lifestyle. But he was also a miser. Whenever a beggar came to him and asked for a few coins, he always shook his head and just went away. Ironically, he was extravagant (揮霍的) with food and water. A faddy eater pretending to be a food snob (食家), he demanded his cook prepare all kinds of food. When he couldn't finish them, he dumped them.

One day, a fairy came and scolded him, "Don't you think it's immoral (不道德的)?"

"I think it's quite interesting, isn't it? At least it shows how rich I am."

The fairy's eyes were full of fire and said, "I'll give you three tons of food. All of them must be eaten. If you fail, I'll send you to hell."

John was desperate at this moment.

One day, while he was having lunch, some shimmering plates appeared. They looked brilliant but who knew what was inside.

The fairy came and it looked at John as if he were dead. "Oh I pity you but that's what you deserve! They're not bad, aren't they? Please finish all the cr�omes caramel, macarons, champagnes, ..." It then ran away like a rabbit being chased.

"Oh Jesus, I don't even know what the fairy was talking about! Just give me a cup of latte please!" John remembered what the fairy said before. He would die if he didn't eat and drink them all! He took away all the covers and found that the foods weren't his favourites. Left with no other options, he could only tough it out — gobbling down all the delicate dessert and guzzling all the fine wine.

He could no longer pack things into his little stomach. He failed to eat up all of them.

"Time's up! Now let's go to hell." The fairy showed itself.

"No please don't kidnap me. I beg you!" John was weeping and the fairy could see his tracks of tear. "Hmmm... Let me show you something." The fairy drew a circle with its bare hands and there was something moving in it.

A man. A poor man. The fairy continued, "I gave this guy the same task. Can you guess what he did? He gave all the food to the people poorer than him!"

"I will no longer show off my riches!" John felt ashamed. The fairy spared (放過) John the imprisonment in hell and ordered him to donate most of his money to charity.

Perhaps this is the best ending for him.

■Food for thought

In traditional Chinese culture, there is something quite decadent (墮落的) about wasting food you can't finish. Do you always finish your meals? Learn to donate your surplus food to organisations like a food bank!

■Glossary

miser (n) 守財奴

faddy (adj) 挑剔的

gobble down (v phr) 狼吞虎嚥

guzzle (v) 狂飲

[Smarties' Power English 第235期]