“Tomorrow we give a free shave.” This sentence rang out
countless times, throughout our household, when our children were
growing up. It is based on the following story: A barber puts
in his window the following notice: “Tomorrow we give a free
shave.” Of course, this sharp barber is not, nor will he ever,
give a free shave. On any given day when you read his sign,
you’re advised that the free shave is for tomorrow. The tomorrow
that never comes! It was a cute way to remind our children how
much humans procrastinate. And the point was made that
procrastination had its limits and that inevitably the day of
reckoning will come. In other words, procrastination was simply
postponement and not avoidance.

The first time I heard the story of The Patient Angel was
from a teacher who used it to remind his class that sooner or
later examination time will come, and that waiting for the last
minute to study can only bring grief.

Actually, it was, at the time, in Egypt, a classic story
with many versions; some of them being extra-long. My own
adaptation is fairly long but will not tax (I hope) the patience
of the reader. I have also taken the liberty of modifying it to
adapt it to the North American thinking.

Here therefore, without further ado, is the story of The
Patient Angel.

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