Fifty Bucks
Ed and his wife Norma faithfully go to the state fair every year, and every year Ed would plead, “Norma, I’d like to ride in that helicopter.”
Frugal Norma would always sternly reply, “I know Ed, but that helicopter ride is fifty bucks, and fifty bucks is fifty bucks!”
After years and years of failed attempts, one year Ed and Norma went to the fair, and an exasperated Ed begged, “Norma, I’m 78 years old. If I don’t ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance.”
To this, unflappable Norma, with hands on hips replied, “Ed, that helicopter ride is fifty bucks, and fifty bucks is fifty bucks.”
The pilot overheard the couple and said, “Folks I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and don’t say a word I won’t charge you a penny! But if you say one word it’s fifty dollars.”
Ed and Norma looked at one another with a nod of final agreement and a big smile on their faces up they went.
The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again. But still not a word…
When they landed, the pilot turned to Ed and said, “By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn’t. I’m impressed!”
Ed sheepishly replied, “Well, to tell you the truth I almost said something when Norma fell out, but you know, Fifty Bucks is Fifty Bucks!”
