From time to time training in the nation's major business schools has been known to make its subjects too clever for their own good. It seems as though one such graduate, upon taking up residence in the country, was negotiating with a local farmer as to the purchase of a donkey. The final price agreed was $100, with delivery to take place the following day.
When the farmer arrived the next day at the time specified, he began thus:
"Sorry," said he, "but I have some bad news. The donkey died."
"Well, then, just give me my money back."
"Can't do that. I went and spent it already."
"Well, just unload the donkey."
"What are you planning on doing with it?"
"I'm going to raffle him off."
"You can't raffle off a dead donkey!"
"Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead."
Sometime later the farmer met up with the business graduate and inquired,
"What ever happened with that dead donkey?"
"I raffled him off. I sold 500 hundred tickets at two dollars apiece and made a profit of $998."
"Didn't anyone complain?"
"Just the guy who won ... so I gave him his two dollars back ..."