Keep the change

　　

Selling secondhand books at our church bazaar of America, I got into an argument with a prospective customer. He was interested in buying The Pocket Book of Ogden Nash but claimed it was overpriced at a half dollar. Other paperbacks were selling for five or nine cents each. I pointed out that the book was in good condition and Nash was a fun poet. Therefore the price was reasonable. He said it was a matter of principle and he couldn’t accept it for such a high price. Ultimately, I agreed to sell him the book for nine cents. Triumphant, he paid with a ＄10 bill。

“Keep the change,” he said generously。
　　

零钱不用找了

 

      在美国教堂的义卖市场上卖旧书时，我与一名可能要买书的顾客发生了一场争论。他对购买袖珍《奥金•纳什集》颇感兴趣，但是说它要五十美分开价过高，其它的平装书每本才卖五或九美分。我指出这本书保存状况颇好，纳什是个有趣的诗人。因此这个要价是合理的。他说这是个原则问题，这么高的价格他是没法接受的。最终，我同意以九美分的价格将这本书卖给他。他得意洋洋地拿出一张十美元的票子要付帐。
      “零钱不用找了，”他慷慨地说。