Approaching Wisdom
[A man of 60 years sits on a stool in a single spot on a stage. A woman in
provocative clothes stands in a second spot 10 feet away. They look at each
other.]
“Hey, Grandpa, you checking me out?”
“I love beauty.”
“Well, for a price you can do more than look.”
“So you sell your beauty?”
“That’s what I do.”
“Well, you’ve got it backward.”
“What do you mean?”
“You should pay me.”
“For what?”
“My wisdom. In fact, I’ve got a sale on today. Ten bucks an
hour.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Try me. Ask a question. The first one’s free.”
“Ok. Why did my daughter die?”
“I don’t know.”
“I thought you answered questions.”
“No. I help you find questions. The answers are yours.”
“So that’s it.”
[She gets up to leave.]
“Perhaps that was not your question.”
“It is.”
“So you had a daughter?”
“Well, I would have if Thomas not made me abort her.”
“And Thomas is?
“My pimp.”
“So you do have a different question. Just be quiet awhile.”
[Two minutes pass with much fidgeting on her part.]
“I do have a question.”
‘Yes?’
“Why am I a prostitute?”
“Now that’s a good question. Okay, our time is up. Let me
know if you find an answer or if you have another question.”
[She departs. Thomas enters.]
“Old man, you’ve been bothering my girls. They show me
less respect and argue with me more. Leave them alone.”
“Do you have a question?”