Joe the barber liked to show just how dumb Tommy was.
Tommy was an 8-year-old boy who would regularly wander into Joe’s Barber Shop, licking an ice cream cone.
Joe, thinking Tommy was dumb, would always play the same trick:
Leaning into his customer, Joe whispered:
“This kid is quite honestly the dumbest young’un I’ve ever met. Just watch, I’ll prove it to ya.”
Tommy overheard and furrowed his brow but remained silent, continuing to enjoy his treat.
Joe reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other.
“Alrighty Tommy, take a look here,” Joe called over:
“Which one do you want – the dollar or the two quarters?”
Tommy eyed the money inquisitively for a moment.
To Joe’s smug satisfaction, the boy reached out and took the two quarters before popping the last of the ice cream into his mouth.
“Well, I’ll be…” Joe laughed heartily as Tommy turned to leave.
“What did I tell ya? The kid ain’t too bright if you ask me!”
Joe’s customer simply chuckled and shook his head as the barber continued working.
A little while later, the customer had paid and was leaving the shop when he spotted Tommy sitting on a bench outside, the quarters in one hand.
Puzzled, he approached the boy.
“Say, son…if you don’t mind me asking,” the customer said. “Why’d you take those quarters instead of the dollar bill back there? Seems like you would’ve been better off with the dollar.”
Tommy looked up and smiled knowingly. Taking a lick of the residual ice cream on his hand, he replied:
“Well, mister, I’ll tell ya – the day I take that dollar is the day the game is over for me and Joe. And I sure do love winning that game.”
