A little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign, “Puppies for Sale.” “How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked.
The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.”
“Can I please look at them?” the little boy said hesitantly.
The store owner smiled and whistled, and out of the kennel came 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 owner explained that it had no hip socket; it would always be lame. The little boy became excited. “That is the little puppy that I want to buy.”
The store owner said, “If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you. But I know you don’t want to buy that little dog.”
The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, 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 advised, “You shouldn’t 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 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 understand!”
