THE SCENE: This 3000 year old passage demonstrates that as long as humans have worn jewelry, parents have had to endure requests from bratty children about buying them jewelry.
THE TEXT: Your son Adad-abum sends the following message: I have never before written to you for something precious I wanted. But if you want to be like a father to me, get me a fine string full of beads, to be worn around the head. Seal it with your seal and give it to the carrier of this tablet so that he can bring it to me. If you have none at hand, dig it out of the ground wherever such objects are found and send it to me. I want it very much; do not withhold it from me. In this I will see whether you love me as a real father does. Of course, establish its price for me, write it down, and send me the tablet. The young man who is coming to you must not see the string of beads. Seal it in a package and give it to him. He must not see the string, the one to be worn around the head, which you are sending. It should be full of beads and be beautiful. If I see it and dislike it, I shall send it back!
Also send the cloak, of which I spoke to you.
– From Letters from Mesopotamia edited by A Leo Oppenheim
