Coins in the Costume Box

The amateur theatre group kept its money in a biscuit tin. After each performance, somebody counted the ticket money and paid for materials. When Nela became responsible for the budget, she discovered that nobody knew how much the costumes had actually cost.

People had bought buttons, cloth and shoes with their own money. Some wanted repayment; others called their purchases gifts. Nela did not want generous volunteers to feel accused, but she also did not want quiet members to pay more simply because they disliked asking.

She invited everyone to bring receipts or write down what they remembered. The total was larger than expected, so the group postponed buying a painted background. They agreed which old expenses they could repay and made a simple rule: future purchases needed approval before anyone spent personal money.

At rehearsal, an actor complained that the empty stage looked poor. Nela opened the costume box and handed him a bright red coat. 'Then you will have to be especially interesting,' she said. The performance still sold plenty of tickets. Afterwards, the tin contained less mystery and a folded list of people who had finally received their money. Nela put the list above the coins, where it would not be forgotten.