A boy went to the pet store to buy a puppy. Four of them were
sitting together, priced at Rs. 5000 each. Then there was one sitting alone in
a corner. The boy asked if that was from the same litter, if it was for sale,
and why it was sitting alone. The store owner replied that it was from the same
litter, it was a deformed one, and not for sale. The boy asked what the
deformity was. The store owner replied that the puppy was born without a hip
socket and had a leg missing. The boy asked, "What will you do with this
one?" The reply was it would be put to sleep. The boy asked if he could
play with that puppy. The store owner said, "Sure."
The boy picked
the puppy up and the puppy licked him on the ear. Instantly the boy decided
that was the puppy he wanted to buy. The store owner said "That is not for
sale!" The boy insisted. The store owner agreed. The boy pulled out RS.
200 from his pocket and ran to get RS. 4800 from his mother. As he reached the
door the store owner shouted after him, "I don't understand why you would
pay full money for this one when you could buy a good one for the same
price." The boy didn't say a word. He just lifted his left trouser leg and
he was wearing a brace. The pet store owner said, "I understand. Go ahead,
take this one." This is empathy.
