While writing with fountain pens in my medical practice (an activity soon to cease, thanks to the U.S. Government), I often get comments from young patients, or the children of patients: "Gee, what a neat pen!" I decided to be prepared if a youngster shows a genuine interest by ordering ten Pilot Petit1 pens in various colors, along with accompanying cartridges--total cost about $50. My first candidate was a 14-year-old football player whose mother was lamenting his lack of interest in his school work and his school's failure to teach cursive writing. Instead of the usual eye-rolling sneer that one gets from most teenage boys, I got the impression that this kid might be interested in improving himself. I sent him on his way with one of the Petit1s, after showing him how to load it, and gave his mother a note about Michael Sull's "American Cursive Handwriting" book. Who knows? At worst, I'm out a few bucks, but the kid seemed grateful--it beats handing out Tootsie Roll pops or Mickey Mouse bandaids.