Scruples

Evidently I've lost some of mine, but Cliff's scruples are in fine shape.  
Someone we know went to the World War I Museum Sunday.  I was asked if we wanted to use their tickets, because the tickets are good for two days.  Since the museum is closed on Monday, that meant we could get in free on Tuesday.  We went to bed Monday night making plans to go to the museum.  
As we were getting ready to go yesterday, Cliff said, "I don't feel right about using those tickets."  
I told him I had no problem with it.  One reason I was glad for the free tickets was that there is no more money budgeted for that kind of thing this month. 
Now, when I talk about "no money in the envelopes", please don't think we are poverty-stricken.  We have some money in checking, and there is money in Cliff's billfold.  However, it isn't a budget if you keep breaking the rules.  Besides, a week from today the envelopes will all be full again; we can cut corners until then.  
Cliff has even offered to "loan" me money from his stash, and I could pay him back next Wednesday.  I won't do that because it would mean I'd be starting out behind next payday.  
So we didn't say much more about those tickets, but I knew I had to come up with some money, or Cliff would be uncomfortable all day.  So I got the two rolls of quarters I'd been saving for whatever frivolous thing might come up and handed them to Cliff.  
"Here's the twenty bucks for our admission."  
"Why are you giving me this?"
"Because if you don't feel right about it, it isn't right."  
The lady in the gift shop where we bought our tickets seems to think it was a little strange that two old fogies were paying her with a couple of rolls of quarters, but that's OK.  
Cliff got to keep his scruples.  
Uncle Sam is giving us a raise in January.  Between the two of us, we'll have $100 more a month.  Yippee!