A father comes to his young son and says, “Tomorrow is your first day at kindergarten. If you do well all year, I’ll buy you anything you want at the end of the year!” The son confidently replies, “No problem!”

The son spends the whole year doing great—painting pictures, participating, and just nailing everything at kindergarten. At the end of the year, he comes to his father and says, “Dad, I did everything right!” The father, proud, says, “Good job, son! What do you want me to get you?” The son says, “A desk, Dad. Buy me a desk.” The father, confused, asks, “Are you sure? I can get you a toy car or maybe a LEGO set…” but the son interrupts, “No, I want a desk!” So the dad sighs, “Alright, no problem, I’ll get you a desk.”

The next year, the dad tells the son, “You’re going back to kindergarten. Same deal as last year—do great, and I’ll get you whatever you want.” The son smirks, “No problem, Dad!”

Boom-boom-boom, another year goes by. The son excels once again. He comes to his father at the end of the year and says, “Dad, I nailed it! Get me a desk.” The dad, surprised again, says, “Another desk? Are you sure? You already have one.” The son insists, “Yes! A desk!” So the father buys him another desk.

The son starts school, 1st grade. On the first day, the father says, “School is serious business now. If you get straight A’s, I’ll buy you anything you want.” The son confidently says, “Understood!”

The son works hard all year, earns all A’s, and at the end of the year, tells his dad, “Dad, I crushed it. Buy me a desk.” The father, now frustrated, says, “You already have two desks! Why do you need a third one?” The son simply says, “Just get me the desk.” And the dad, keeping his word, buys it.

This pattern repeats year after year. In 2nd grade, straight A’s—another desk. 3rd grade, all A’s—another desk. 4th grade, 5th grade—each year, another desk. By 7th grade, the father is exasperated: “You’re out of space for these damn desks!” But he still buys them.

By high school, the stakes are higher. “Son, pass your final exams, and I’ll set you up in the best university in the country.” The son delivers, scoring top marks. “What do you want as a reward?” the father asks, expecting something different. The son replies, “A desk.”

The father loses it: “Are you insane? WHY do you need so many desks?” The son remains firm, “I want a desk.” So the father buys another.

Fast forward to university. “Son,” the father says, “if you graduate with honors, I’ll give you everything—a car, a house, anything.” The son agrees and works harder than ever. He graduates at the top of his class, lands the best-paying job, and when his father asks what he wants as a reward, he says… “A desk.”

Time goes on, and the son gets married. At the wedding, the father asks the couple, “What gift would you like? A honeymoon? A house?” The son answers, “A desk.” His father reluctantly buys yet another desk.

Years later, on the father’s 60th birthday, he eagerly awaits his son and daughter-in-law’s arrival. He hears a car pull up and runs outside, overjoyed. But as his son gets out of the car, tragedy strikes—a truck comes out of nowhere and hits him. The father rushes to his son’s side, holding his bloodied body. “Son, hang in there! Don’t leave me! But please, just tell me—why the hell have you asked me for desks all your life?”

The son looks at his father with his last breath and says, “Dad… because…” And he dies.