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Puppies
for Sale
Dan Clark
A storeowner 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 storeowner
replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50." The little boy
reached in his pocket and pulled out some change.
"I have
$2.37," he said. "May I please look at them?"
The store owner smiled
and whistled, and out of the kennel came a dog, who ran down the
aisle of his store followed by five tiny balls of fur. One puppy
was lagging considerably behind. Immediately, the little boy
singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's
wrong with that little dog?"
The storeowner 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 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, pointed his
finger at him 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
fifty 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 his surprise, 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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