At the Market

One Story A Day (Book 5 for May)

1 At the Market When my dad was a young man, he spent some time in northern Africa. “ You learn a lot about the world when you get out and see it, " my father always says. While in Africa, my dad woke up early one morning and decided to take a walk. He slowly walked through the market, admiring the goods for sale in the shops. Dad entered a small shop. He saw a small brass butterfly and asked the man, “ How much for this?" The man told him the price, but Dad was not interested in buying it. He just wanted to know how much it cost. Dad left and continued his walk through the town. All of a sudden, he saw the man from the market. “ Hey Mister, " said the man, “ I would REALLY like to sell this toy butterfly to you. Please! If the price is too high, what price would you pay for it?"

But Dad was not interested. He was polite, but he told the man that he did not want to buy it. “ Please, " cried the man. “ I will give it to you for only a few pennies. " But my father politely refused again and left. Soon he was on another street and to his surprise, the man from the market was there too. " Sir, I do not want to bother you, but please purchase this toy from me. " Three more times, as he walked through the village, Dad encountered the man from the market. Each time, the man begged my father to buy the toy. Each time, my dad said no, and went on his way. Finally, the man said, “ You do not know the customs of my country. It is the custom that I must make a sale to the first person to enter my shop on a Friday morning. You were the first to come to my shop today, so I must sell this toy to you. Please, will you not help me out? It will mean bad luck for me if you do not buy it. " My father realized how important this was. He decided to purchase the toy. " How much for it?" he asked. " One penny, " said the old man eagerly. My father gladly gave the man two dollars, for he had learned something of the country's culture that day.