and that neighbor says that his wife might need an operation. It will cost a bit and he's looking for help. His kid is looking for "sponsors" for a 6 month walk from here to Nirvana, and would like $1 a day. You figure it's only $180 and it doesn't look as if the wife will need the operation anyway.

After all, experts are checking her over, and haven't found anything.

Well, even while the experts are checking over the lady, the kid takes off on his walk. Says the "experts" aren't looking hard enough. And you start paying $1 a day.

$180 later, the kid is still walking, somehow isn't any closer to Nirvana. Been walking sideways, backwards, in circles but keeps going. Kid is an obnoxious sort, makes enemies wherever he goes, it's getting to be a dangerous trip. He walks forward during the day, retreats to the same safe motel every night. No progress.

$360 later it turns out the wife didn't need the operation in the first place. And you're out $360 and counting.

Kid says he needs more kids with him, it's not safe. Cost goes to $2 a day. New kids stay in same motel, heading out during the day, coming back to the same place every night.

Kids are starting to need new shoes, new everything, and medical care. Cost goes to $3 per day. Add a few more kids and the cost hits $5 a day.

You are now into this for around $7,000, and the wife did not need the operation. At all. But the neighbor says you can't abandon his kid to the mercy of the people he has pissed off. And their friends and relatives.

At what point does a reasonable and prudent person tell the neighbor that the entire operation was phony and to bring the kid home, there is no more money for that particular folly?

Arf