¹     "Mom," asked Jan, "Why do we say please?"
 
²     "It is part of being polite," said Mom. "Come and help me set the table, please."
 
³     "Why do we say that word?" asked Jan.
 
⁴     "I think it is part of the phrase 'if you please,'" said Mom. "It means if it makes you happy."
 
⁵     "It is like I am asking a favor?" said Jan.
 
⁶     Mom nodded as she put the flatware on the table. "It is very much like that. If someone came to you asking a favor, what would you do?"
 
⁷     "I would think about it. I might even do it," said Jan.
 
⁸     "How would you feel if they just told you to do it?" asked Mom.
 
⁹     "I would not like that," said Jan.
 
¹⁰     "Why does it matter?" asked Mom.
 
¹¹     "I have not thought about it," said Jan.
 
¹²     "What do you think of this? When you say ‘please' you are thinking about me. When you say ‘I want' you are thinking of yourself," said Mom.
 
¹³     Jan nodded. "That sounds right."

Paragraphs 14 to 29:
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