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John was a clerk at a small pharmacy, but he was not much of a salesman…
He could never find the item the customer wanted.
Peter, the owner, had about enough, and warned John that the next sale he missed would be his last.
Just then, a man came in coughing and asked John for the best cough syrup.
Try as he might, John couldn’t find the cough syrup.
Remembering Peter’s warning, John sold the man a box of laxatives and told him to take them all at once.
The customer did as John suggested and then walked outside and leaned against a post.
Peter had seen all this occur and came over to ask John what had happened.
“He wanted something for his cough, but I couldn’t find the cough syrup… “
“so I substituted it for laxatives and told him to take them all at once,” John said.
Peter was shocked – “Laxatives won’t cure a cough!” he shouted angrily.
“Sure, they will,” said John, pointing at the man leaning on the post.
“Look at him… “
“He’s afraid to cough!”
