{"id":5887,"date":"2026-10-27T11:43:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T11:43:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/?p=5887"},"modified":"2026-10-27T11:48:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T11:48:39","slug":"consumerism-and-small-houses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/?p=5887","title":{"rendered":"Consumerism and Small Houses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Banani and his family move to the city. Their house is small, but it\u2019s all they can afford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One weekend, his youngest daughter complains to her mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Youngest Daughter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mum, I want a new dress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her mother checks the prices online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mother<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not right now, sweetheart. Your current dress still fits you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Time passes, and another weekend, Banani\u2019s wife speaks to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I heard there\u2019s a shop selling cheap clothes at the shopping centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Okay. We can go and have a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When they get there, it\u2019s all true. The clothes cost next to nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wife and daughters start buying dress after dress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Banani follows them with the twins\u2019 pushchair and a huge pile of clothes to pay for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He tries to protest, but his wife ignores him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Honey, the girls already have plenty of clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No, the ones they have don\u2019t fit anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When they get home, the clothes they\u2019ve bought take up almost the entire wardrobe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following weekend, the same scene plays out again. Back to the shopping centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back to the cheap clothes shop. More bags upon bags of clothes to squeeze into the wardrobe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One day, Banani sees his wife setting aside one of the dresses they bought recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That one was new!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, but it\u2019s already worn out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then throw it away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No, I\u2019m putting it aside to donate to charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We should stop buying clothes from that shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The girls need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That same weekend, Banani finds himself back in the crowded shop, pushing the twins and carrying bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The clothes keep piling up until they no longer fit in the wardrobe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We should buy another wardrobe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem is, we don\u2019t have room for another wardrobe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The consumerism continues, and Banani decides to dedicate an area of the house to storing the clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He calls it \u201cThe Mountain\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than searching through it, the girls simply ask for new clothes. Anything that survives two or three washes gets ruined and remains buried under the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One day, his wife walks into the kitchen and finds Banani sitting at the table with a calculator and a notepad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What are you doing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We need to talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please, don\u2019t start again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve done the maths. The average price of a dress is three pounds. One wash costs us one pound twenty. After two washes, we\u2019ve already spent two pounds forty. By the third wash, the washing costs more than the dress! And since these clothes are ready for the bin after two and three-quarter washes, we\u2019re basically paying to destroy the merchandise!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wife, who lost him at the third calculation, walks away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The figures speak for themselves, but by the time you realise it, it\u2019ll be too late!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once an item of clothing enters \u201cThe Mountain\u201d, it disappears forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So Banani is forced to keep his two pairs of trousers and two undershirts, which are all he owns apart from his lab coat, hidden in a separate suitcase so they don\u2019t get lost in there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, one day he forgets to take his clothes out of the tumble dryer, and they end up in The Mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Banani spends the rest of the afternoon trying to recover his belongings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Along with the things he was looking for, Banani finds ten pairs of socks that have been missing for months, a ceramic plate given as a wedding present by his mother-in-law\u2019s uncles, and a stereo system that still sort of works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also discovers that the house has a sofa, whose very existence the family had forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wife decides to put an end to the mess by paying a woman to fold all the clothes in The Mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The woman works full-time for three days, but she finally gets the job done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wife pays her and sends her on her way, then shows Banani the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Banani looks at the result. The same mountain. Only now, all the clothes are folded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now it looks like a brick wall. I&#8217;ll call it &#8220;The Wall&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From now on, we\u2019ll have to teach the girls to be tidy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wife calls the girls over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There you go! From now on, whenever you put your clothes away, you have to fold them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The girls go back to playing, but one of the twins has spotted a blue dress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Twin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bluuue!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The twins head towards &#8220;The Wall&#8221;, fascinated by the new architectural structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just then, his wife\u2019s phone rings. It\u2019s an important client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wife concentrates on the call while Banani tries to stop the twins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hey! Stop!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Banani tries to hold them back, but they get upset and start crying loudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His wife, who can no longer hear a thing on the phone, gestures for him to let them go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Banani obeys. The twins reach the blue dress and, within seconds, &#8220;The Wall\u201d collapses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Banani puts his hands on his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Banani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look at this mess! You two are a natural disaster!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Igor, who has been spying through the window, delivers his punchline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Igor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nice wall. Shame it didn\u2019t meet earthquake safety standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next time, instead of hiring a cleaner, call a builder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Banani and his family move to the city. Their house is small, but it\u2019s all they can afford. One weekend, his youngest daughter complains to her mother. Youngest Daughter Mum, I want a new dress. Her mother checks the prices online. Mother Not right now, sweetheart. Your current dress still fits you. Time passes, and &#8230; <a title=\"Consumerism and Small Houses\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/?p=5887\" aria-label=\"Read more about Consumerism and Small Houses\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-short-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5887"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5892,"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5887\/revisions\/5892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savedblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}