ENC 1101-B3 & B4: Writing for Discovery

“Frank, breakfast is on the table. You’re going to be late for work!” I, a middle class family man with a job in management with the local grocery store chain, scurry downstairs to eat with my family. As I give my two daughters a kiss on the cheek, I reach for the daily newspaper at the table. My wife, Debbie, fills me in on what her plans are for her day.

My family gobbles up bacon and eggs while talking amongst ourselves before we head our own ways. I turn to the business section of the newspaper and open it up to read the latest news in the market. The stock market has always interested me, not so much my wife though.

“Daddy, what are you reading,” my daughter asks.

“The business section where they talk about the stock market and how all the businesses in the world are relating to the economy.”

“Ohh,” she replies and I laugh, since I know I am talking to a four year old about business. “Stop pinching me,” Kristina says to her sister as she forgets all about it in a matter of seconds.

Turning to the next page, I read an article titled: “Coca-Cola Stock is Most Active.” It says that the company’s production is to be on the up rise with the new products coming out. I look up the ticker symbol for Coca-Cola, KO, and notice it is lower than usual.

I had just gotten a bonus at work for best sales for the year, so I have some extra money that is open for ideas. My boss at Hefty Enterprises Inc. gave me the award because of my hard work and dedication toward the company, so I figure I have the most say of how to spend the money.

The family’s plan is to save up for a new minivan, but KO seemed much more appealing to me. My family is always excited when it comes to extra money, and my bonus is the best news that we have received in a long time. I don’t mention anything to my wife and kids about my idea. Instead, I head off to work shortly after grabbing some more information about Coca-Cola on the Internet.

Driving to work, I think about purchasing some stock that could make me some good money. I had usually never done anything spontaneous like this before because I am not a big risk taker; a good offer like this couldn’t slip by me.

On the other hand, the stock could go very far down in price. Acknowledging that, I read more on it and look at what the market is doing overall as I stop in rush hour traffic. I glance over the highs and lows, the analysis’s opinions, and the charts of past times of the major corporation. Taking the risk is on my mind, but not without doing my homework.

I pick up my cell phone and call my trustworthy broker that I have taken advice from and purchased stocks in past. “What do you think about picking up a couple hundred or so shares of Coca-Cola stock,” I ask him. I make sure to put the point across that I want to put in the money that day and sell it before the day is over.

Herb, my broker, replies saying that, “It is very active and it could be on the increase, but you never know with the way things have been going lately.” I put all of my faith in his words considering he has made me money in previous experiences.

“This is a large risk, have you done research on your decision?” Herb asks.

“Not too much, just a couple hours of study early this morning. I feel that I can pick up some extra money if I’m willing to take a slight risk.”

Herb, with a family of four as well, knew my situation and tells me it is my decision all the way. I give it a few seconds and reply with, “put in 600 shares before the opening bell today please.”

I just put over 8,000 dollars in the market with one phone call!

Arriving to my computer at work, the opening bell came around as I look up the price of the Coca-cola stock with minute-to-minute quotes. Confusion is all around my desk in my job as always, but I had a different priority to pay attention to today. As an hour passes by, things were looking good as the price jumps up over two dollars a share; but that isn’t enough for me as I continuously let it move in price.

“Ring, ring.” Herb notifies me that the stock is up over four points and motions for me to sell it now. I decline, as I want it to go up even more. A few more dollars and that’s two minivans for my family.

As mid-day passes, KO is down falling. It is almost to what it started out as, but still going down. I progressively discover that it is going down gradually toward where it started, but it is still around even which signifies I couldn’t win or lose money if it ends around the purchase price.

While I take care of a customer in need of help, the thought of one of the biggest financial decisions ever keeps going through my head. I hurry back to the computer to check the updated quote: KO –3.57! I immediately pick up the phone to call my broker.

“Let it sit a little while,” Herb suggests.

“How can I with all the money at hand and my family in need?” I know I need that money for more important things. My family depended on it for supplies for my children in school, the upcoming utility bills, and Christmas presents for the holidays.

They have no idea that at this second I could lose it all. I want to call my wife and tell her what I have done, but now is not the time. I rush to my desk again to see the ticker symbol.

I give it time to change as I go on with my day. As a couple hours pass, the stock bounces back little by little. Debbie calls me at work to check up on me as she usually does and I tell her things are okay. We didn’t talk at all about money in our conversation, but it is the only thing I could think of as I listen to how things were going with the family back home.

I hang up the phone with Debbie and notice that KO is down only twenty-five cents a share. With a half hour left till closing on Wall Street, I think of selling my shares. I call Herb and tell him to sell the stock and to just take the loss. I did not realize what I got myself into!

“Honey, I have something to tell you,” as I arrive home from work. While telling Debbie what had happened, her face grew with irritation and distress.

My wife, and I especially, realize how big a mistake it was and how it wasn’t the best thing even if we made money.

“I can’t believe you did that with our family’s current situation,” she states.

Kristina and Sara were the main issue on the dependence of money. Sara is just starting school and therefore Debbie would have to start going back to work.

After all the confusion and stress, my family and I take a loss of a couple hundred dollars in the market. Debbie and I emphasize to each other how something like this would never happen again.