ambling Mary

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

Professor Hamblin, the Baron’s chief advisor, was telling a story to the Baron about how gambling was an addiction that affected every member of a family even though only one member was addicted. In this case, the Professor related the story of a mother, with two young children, who were married to a police officer, Bob.

The wife, Mary, would bet on the horses, even though there were no horse races in Lilliland. Her bookie arranged for her to bet on horses in different countries.

Mary was so ashamed of her gambling habit that she kept it a secret from her family and friends. Like most gamblers, she lost more money than she won.

Her habit was finally discovered quite by accident by her husband. It seemed that the butcher at the market where she regularly shopped said that he noticed that Mary was buying cheaper, lower grades of meat for the family and recently asked her if there was a problem. Bob said that he did not know of any problem but would ask Mary about it.

When asked about it, Mary confessed to Bob that she was using some of the weekly butcher shop money to cover her gambling debts.

Bob reacted with alarm and deep concern that Mary was not purchasing the best food for their children. Confronted and ashamed, Mary agreed to go for counseling to stop her gambling addiction before it destroyed the family.

Mary admitted that she had had the craving to gamble for many years. Each year it got worse and worse and she was so ashamed that she did not want anyone to know the truth.

There were two solutions, first, go for addiction counseling, and second, the husband needed to keep a closer eye on all family expenditures.

The Professor concluded the story by saying that after her successful counseling, Bob and Mary’s family began to eat delicious cuts of meat again.