DAY+30+JERRY'S+SITUATION

Please read the following situation and discuss the questions below:

Jerry just moved to a new school and was feeling pretty lonely until one day a guy named Bob came up and introduced himself. “Hi, Jerry. My name is Bob. I heard one of the teachers say you’re new here. If you’re not doing anything after school today, how about coming over to shoot some baskets?” Pretty soon Jerry and Bob were good friends.

One day when Jerry was shooting baskets by himself, the basketball coach saw him and invited him to try out for the team. Jerry made the team, and every day after school he would practice with the rest of the team. After practice, Jerry and his teammates would always go out together to get something to eat and sit around and talk about stuff. On weekends they would sometimes take trips together.

As Jerry spends more time with the team, he sees less and less of Bob, his old friend. One day, Jerry gets a call from Bob. “Say, I was wondering,” says Bob, “if you’re not too busy on Thursday, my family is having a little birthday party for me. Maybe you could come over for dinner that night.” Jerry tells Bob he’ll try to come to the party. But during practice on Thursday, everyone tells Jerry about the great place they’re all going to after practice.


 * 1. Should Jerry go with the team? ** go with team -go to Bob’s party -can’t decide

go with team -go to Bob’s party -can’t decide
 * 2. What if Jerry calls Bob from school and says he’s sorry, but something has come up and he can’t come over after all? Then would it be all right for Jerry to go with the team? **

go with team -go to Bob’s party -can’t decide
 * 3. What if Jerry considers that his teammates may be upset if Jerry doesn’t come – that they may start to think Jerry’s not such a good friend? Then would it be all right for Jerry to go with the team? **

go with team -go to Bob’s party -can’t decide
 * 4. What if Jerry thinks that, after all, Bob came along and helped Jerry when Jerry was lonely. Then should Jerry go with the team? **

go with team -go to Bob’s party -can’t decide
 * 5. Let’s change the situation a bit. Let’s say that before Bob asks Jerry to come over, the teammates ask if Jerry will be coming along on Thursday, Jerry says he thinks so. Then Bob asks Jerry. Then what should Jerry do? **

one close friend -group of regular friends -can’t decide
 * 6. Which is more important to have - one close friend or to have a group of regular friends? **

go with team -go to Bob’s party -can’t decide
 * 7. Let’s change the situation a different way. What if Jerry and Bob are not good friends but instead are just acquaintances? Then should Jerry go with the team? **