"Dog Tired " and a Dollar short

It is the first week in December with the Holidays rapidly approaching. Washington is being slammed by the worst snow storm in decades.  The Potomac is intermittently iced as temperatures begin to drop.  Streets covered with snow worsen the traffic and lengthens the trip to what use to be known as National Airport.

Ronnie, waiting at the airport sees that his flight will be delayed.  Charles, a friend, standing close by empathizes.

"Brother Ron,"

"Yes Brother Charles"

 "Watching the snow fall reminds me of yet another winter decades ago when we had a storm dropping tons of snow.  Not a hotel had a room available."

"So, when was that Brother Charles"

"Well let me see – hmm, Bother Ron remember the summer that was so hot that we saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walkin ?"

"Yes, I believe I do, Brother Charles."

"Well it was the winter that followed."

"Brother Charles is there a point to all of this."

"Now, now, Brother Ron – I was just rememberin how these here three men arrived lookin for a room at the old hotel above Ford's Theater.  I recall the old Ford's Hotel had the last room available in all of Washington.

"The last room huh, one room – three men.  So what did they do?"

"Well as I recall Brother Ron, the manager most aware of the dilemma presented the cost of the room to be $30 but if the gentlemen would not mind each could pay $10 and share the room."

"Brother Charles, as I see that cold snow fallin if I needed that room I'd be willin to share in an effort for the three of us to help each other.  I mean, it would only be the Christian thing to do, right?"

"I could not agree more Brother Ron, and that's exactly what those three men decided to do.  That old manager he calls over the Bell Boy and orders him to carry the suit cases to their room, after the men had already paid $10 each for their room and made there way there, cause they were dog tired.  But you know that old fellar suddenly realized the mistake he had made."

"And what was that Brother Charles"

"Well I'll tell ya Brother Ron, that old fellar had charged the men $30 for a room that was only $25."

"Oh Lordie, what did he do then, Brother Charles."

"Well I'll tell ya, he calls over the young whipper snapper of a Bell Boy and hands him 5 one dollar bills and orders him to split the five dollars three ways as a refund to the three men upstairs.  And right away the young fellar tries to tell the manager the difficulty he faces in carrying out that order, but before that Bell Boy has a chance to put a word in edgewise – the manager reminds the young man just how cold the snow is outside and would he like to hold on to his job."

"So Brother Charles what did the poor boy, do?"

"The poor boy, as you say – thinks for a moment and comes to the following solution.  He decides to keep 2 dollars as a tip which he places in his pocket, and then when he knocks on their door simply says that there is a small refund for the room and hands over one dollar to each of three men as he cheerfully says good night."

"Well Brother Charles I see that every thing worked out."

"I don't think so Brother Ron – I really don't think so."

"Answer me this Brother Ron – other than the fact the boy was not quiet honest about all this – the real cost of the room was $25, after the men had paid $10 each."

"Yes, so?"

"So how much did they initially pay?"

"Well, $10 each"

"That's right!"

"And how much did they each get back as a refund?"

"Well, each got back one dollar"

"So having paid $10 each and getting one dollar back, how much did they really pay for the room?"

"Well, 9 dollars each"

"That's right!"

"And so tell me Brother Ron how much is 3 times 9?"

"Well, that would be 27."

"That's Right"

"And how much is 27 plus the 2 dollars the young man kept as a tip"

"Well ah, that would be 29."

"That's right!, so what happened to the last dollar!"