The other two brothers thought that this was a splendid idea and happily agreed to it. Each one believed that they were good at selling and would be the first to raise the ten coins. They asked the youngest brother to climb the tree because he was the smallest and could easily wander from branch to branch. The two elder brothers waited for him to drop the mangoes on the ground while they counted. Once he had picked fifteen ripe mangoes, they asked him to get down. They equally distributed the mangoes amongst themselves so that each one had five mangoes.

A passerby saw the juicy mangoes on the ground and decided that she will buy some. She assumed that the boys were selling the mangoes on behalf of their mother, so she just greeted them and went to find the mother. She knocked on the door and the boys’ mother opened. She told her about the mangoes she had seen in her garden and that she would like to buy some. The mother called the boys to help her get some mangoes from the tree for the buyer, but the boys had dispersed. They knew that they were not supposed to pick the mangoes without their mother’s permission. Now there were fifteen mangoes on the ground and whoever plucked them without asking the mother first was going to be in trouble.

However, the mother had a different idea. She knew her boys had grown up and wanted to teach them some responsibility. She would be paying them one coin for every mango that they pick for sale. The mother and the buyer stood next to the just plucked mangoes. The mother was still calling out to her sons.

“I will count to five, and if you boys will not be here by then you will be in trouble.” She threatened.

Shyly, the boys came from the behind the shrubs where they were hiding.

“Who picked all these mangoes?” The mother asked. No one moved his lips. The mother asked for the second time and the eldest son said that it wasn’t him. He lied to his mother that the mangoes were already there when they arrived. The second son also denied any involvement and said the same thing as his elder brother. The mother looked at his youngest son and asked him if that was true. The boy remembered that his mother had always taught them to be honest even if that will get one in trouble.

“It was my mother. I climbed the tree and picked the mangoes. I am sorry, that I did not seek your permission first.” The youngest brother said in a low voice. He was trembling as he was aware of the punishment to follow.

“Why did you pick the mangoes?” The mother asked the boy.
“So I could sell them in the market and raise ten coins to buy a hula hoop. The boy replied nervously.
“Okay, help this visitor to put the mangoes in the bag.”
The boy was surprised at her mother’s sudden softness. Is she only being kind until the visitor leaves before she can give him a good whipping?” He wondered. The buyer paid the mother thirty coins for all the fifteen mangoes and left.

The boys stood there, still and tensed. The mother turned to her youngest son while counting some coins.

“You said you needed ten coins. Here is fifteen for every mango that you picked.” The mother said as she handed over fifteen coins to her youngest son.

The boys’ surprise was evident in their widely opened jaws.
“Are you not going to punish him?” Asked the oldest brother.
“No. He was the only one who was honest with me and he deserves to be rewarded. As for the two of you, I know that you lied to me. This way boys. Let’s discuss your punishment.” The mother said as he pulled his two older sons by their ears.
The youngest brother thanked his mother and dashed to the market for the hula hoop. He would spend ten coins and save the remaining five coins. He was so happy that he told his mother the truth. Indeed, honesty is the best policy.