The Greeting (Macedonian)
As Itar Pejo walked pass a wealthy man, the wealthy man said,
“Hey, why didn’t you greet me and bow?”
“Why should I?” replied Itar Pejo.
“Because I have a thousand gold coins,” was the reply. “That’s why.
“So what if you do,” said Itar Pejo. “Why should it mean anything to me? They are yours, not mine.”
“Yes, they are mine, but I can give you half.”
“Well, if you do, we will both have 500 coins—and using your rationale, there will be no reason for me to bow to you.”
“Well what if I decide to relinquish my wealth and give you all one thousand coins? Then what?
“Then you will have nothing, and I will have one thousand coins—and using your rationale, you will be the one bowing to me!
“OK, OK!” the rich man said. “I must be getting along now.”
And as he left, Itar Pejo though to himself, “A greeting and respect really are not things to be bought with money!”
As Itar Pejo walked pass a wealthy man, the wealthy man said,
“Hey, why didn’t you greet me and bow?”
“Why should I?” replied Itar Pejo.
“Because I have a thousand gold coins,” was the reply. “That’s why.
“So what if you do,” said Itar Pejo. “Why should it mean anything to me? They are yours, not mine.”
“Yes, they are mine, but I can give you half.”
“Well, if you do, we will both have 500 coins—and using your rationale, there will be no reason for me to bow to you.”
“Well what if I decide to relinquish my wealth and give you all one thousand coins? Then what?
“Then you will have nothing, and I will have one thousand coins—and using your rationale, you will be the one bowing to me!
“OK, OK!” the rich man said. “I must be getting along now.”
And as he left, Itar Pejo though to himself, “A greeting and respect really are not things to be bought with money!”