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2012/12/29

A Ten Thousand Dollar Bill by Sandy McIntosh

 Forty-Nine Guaranteed Ways to Escape Death                               

A woman asked if I could change
A ten thousand dollar bill.
I told her, “Nobody can change
a ten thousand dollar bills.”
But I opened my wallet anyway
and found that I had ten
one thousand dollar bills.
“It’s your lucky day!” I told her.
“Here’s your change.”
She gave me a wink
and a big smile.

Later that day
Another woman asked me for change
of a ten thousand dollar bill.
I told her, “Nobody can change
a ten thousand dollar bills.”
“But I just saw you change one this morning,” she argued.
“Won’t you open your wallet again and look?”
So, I opened my wallet,
And yes, there was change
for a ten thousand dollar bill.
“It’s your lucky day!” I told her.
“Here’s your change.”
However, counting it out
I noticed that the first ten thousand dollar bill
wasn’t in my wallet. I’d never taken it
from first woman!

I ran back to the first woman,
who was still smiling and winking.
“I’ve spent it all”
in answer to my question.
And now tears filled her eyes.
I felt sorry for her.
And opened my wallet
To give her the second
Ten thousand bill in my wallet!

I ran back to where the second woman stood.
“I’ve spent it all”, she told me
tears filling her eyes.
I patted her hand.
All I could do was stand there
holding her hand.

Eventually, I found
comfort for my self:
Even if I’d had
the ten thousand dollar bill,
it wouldn’t have done me any good,

because nobody can change
a ten thousand dollar bill.

                                         from Forty-Nine Guaranteed ways to Escape Death

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Copyright ⓒ2007 by Sandy mcIntosh



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