YOU DO NOT HAVE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT ASK
Richard B Gillion
2002

Bank	Next please.  Ah, good morning, Mr Smith.

Customer	Good morning, I’d like to withdraw £2,000.

Bank	I’ll just check your account, sir.

Customer	There should be £5,000 in it.

Bank	Well according to our records, there’s only 53p in it.

Customer	Nonsense, I’ve got much more than that.

Bank	Why exactly do you believe that you have more money in your account?

Customer  [brandishing magazine]  Here!  It says in this article that with all my children to feed and clothe, someone on my income is entitled to £5,000 family income supplementary enhancement bonus credit.

Bank	And when did you apply for it?

Customer	Oh, I haven’t applied for it.  No.  It says here it could be paid into my bank account.

Bank	But you haven’t applied for it.  You need to contact the Department.  You need to ask them.

Customer	What if they don’t like me?  I don’t know them very well.  They may not want to give it to someone like me.

Bank	It’s their job.  That’s what they do.  It’s not a question of whether they like you.

Customer	What if they say “no”?

Bank	You just said you’d be entitled to it.

Customer	Yes, but my parents taught me not to ask for things from other people.

Bank	Well, it’s up to you.  If you want what has been made available for you, you will have to ask for it.  You can make excuses or you can ask and receive.  You cannot spend it until you get it.  And you cannot get it unless you ask for it.

Customer	Well it’s worth a try I suppose.  I’ve nothing to lose — except my pride, my fear and my sense of being controlled by childhood memories.

Bank	Yes, go and ask, and when you’ve received it, then you can use it.

Customer	Goodbye.

Bank		Goodbye, Mr Smith.