A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale."
Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a
little boy appeared under the store owner's sign.
"How much are you going
to sell the puppies for?" he asked. The store owner replied, "Anywhere from
$30 to $50." The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change.
"I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?"
The store owner smiled
and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his
store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging
considerably behind. Immediately the little boy signaled out the lagging,
limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?" The store owner
explained that the veterinairan had examined the little puppy and had discovered
it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.
The little boy became excited. "That is the little puppy that I want to buy."
The store owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really
want him, I'll just give him to you." The little boy got quite upset. He looked
straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't
want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all
the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I''ll give you $2.37 now, and
50 cents a month until I have him paid for." The store owner countered, "You
really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run
and jump and play with you like the other puppies." To this, the little boy
reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled
left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and
softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will
need someone who understands!"
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