Description                                  
The story covers three days in the life 
of the young Max.  On the first day, 
Max and his Mom visit Marge’s 
Ostrich Burger pushcart.  Max orders 
a lot of  burgers, and each one he 
eats is less enjoyable. On the second 
day, Max returns to the Ostrich Burger 
pushcart with his mom. Max is able to 
choose from a number of “lunch box” 
choices, all a combination of Ostrich 
burgers and Ostrich nuggets. On the 
third day, Max returns again to the 
Ostrich Burger pushcart, this time 
without his mom. Max was given money 
to buy lunch, and he must figure out the 
best way to spend his money. This story 
demonstrates the concepts of utility, 
diminishing marginal utility, indifference, 
budget lines, and purchasing power.

Day One 
Max: 
I'm really hungry. I could eat a bunch of burgers. 

Mother: 
Get whatever you want, dear. 

Max: 
Oohhh Boy!  I'll have five burgers! 

Marge: 
Enjoy your lunch! 

Mother: 
Don't eat so fast Max, you'll upset your stomach. 

Max: 
(with mouth full) Yes mother... 

Mother: 
And don't talk with your mouth full! 

Max: 
Yes mother.  (Burps) 

Mother: 
Maaxxx!  
 
Day Two 
Max: 
Are we eating at the Ostrich Burger cart again today? 

Mom:  
Yes dear, but you can get other things besides burgers. 

Max: 
Like what? 

Marge: 
Well, I have several specials today. 

Marge: 
Lunch number one has 4 burgers and 2 nuggets... 

Max: 
(Max's expressions communicate the relative ranking of preferences)  Hmmm… 

Marge: 
Lunch  number two has 2 burgers and 4 nuggets... 

Max: 
Mmmmm… 

Marge:  
Lunch number three has 1 burger and 2 nuggets... 

Max: 
Nahhhh… 

Marge: 
Lunch number four has 4 burgers and 8 nuggets... 

Max: 
Yeah! 

Mother: 
He'll have special number two, please. 

Marge: 
Enjoy your lunch! 

Day Three 
Mother:  
Now don't lose that ten dollar bill! 

Max: 
OK Mother! 

Max: 
Mmmm, I'm hungry! 

Marge: 
What would you like today, young man? 

Max: 
Gee, I never had to think about prices before -- Mom always got me whatever I wanted. 

Max: 
Well, I’m really hungry, and I've got $10 to spend. I wonder what’s the best way for me to spend it? 

--End--           Back