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 to .” The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some
change. “I have .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
considerable 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’s 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
.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 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!”


By Dan Clark
from Chicken Soul for the Soul