The Saga of the Salt Shaker

Poor Nilima also could not come to St. Louis because she was working on something for me. I happened to see a salt shaker and a pepper shaker in the form of a fish. Once upon a time, she also was a fish. Anyway, I took these salt and pepper shakers as incense containers. One was green and one was black. Since I do not buy black, I wanted to buy just the green one.

The salesman said, "No, we will not sell only one. You have to buy a pair."

I said, "I do not need both. I will use it for an incense container."

"Incense container? Incense container! This is a salt shaker!"

I said, "But my purpose is not salt here. I want an incense container."

"You have to buy both."

I said, "All right. I will not buy both, but I will pay for both. What shall I do with both? If I buy both from you, I will just throw one away since I do not want it. The best thing is if you can sell it to somebody else."

He said, "I will not be able to sell it."

I said, "You will not be able to sell it? Then at least you will get the full amount from me. I am asking you to keep the black one because I will not use it. Since I will not use it, you keep it. But you take the money for both."

Finally, he agreed to take the money for both. But at the last moment, his compassion came forward. He charged me only for one!

28 June 1987 St. Louis