John was a clerk in a small drugstore but he was not much of a salesman．He could never find the item the customer wanted．

Bob，the owner，had about enough and warned John that the next sale he missed would be his last．

Just then a man came in coughing and he asked John for their best cough syrup．Try as he might John could not find the cough syrup．Remembering Bob’s warning he sold the man a box of Ex-Lax and told him to take it all at once．The customer did as John said and then walked outside and leaned against a lamppost．

Bob had seen the whole thing and came over to ask John what had transpired．

“He wanted something for his cough but I couldn’t find the cough syrup．I substituted Ex-Lax and told him to take it all at once，”John explained．

“Ex-Lax won’t cure a cough．”Bob shouted angrily．

“Sure it will．”John said，pointing at the man leaning on the lamppost．“Look at him．He’s afraid to cough．”