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 the kennel came a
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 veterinarian 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 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!"
Dan
Clark, from Chicken Soup for the Soul
©
copyright 2000 Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.
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