"Puppies For Sale"
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. "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 teeny, 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 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 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 $0.50
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 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."
Author unknown