Following Smith’s physical, Dr. Bernard sent his patient a bill.


A month went by without a remittance, the office sent the first letter… another bill, and then another, and then a fourth, but no payment came…

Finally he sent Smith a pathetic letter, claiming desperately strained circumstances and enclosing a shot of his infant daughter.

On the back of the snapshot he wrote, “The reason I desperately need the money you owe me!”

Barely a week later a response from Smith arrived in the mail. Dr. Bernard ripped it open eagerly, and found himself holding a picture of a gorgeous woman in a full length mink coat.

On the back of the photograph the patient had scrawled, “The reason I can’t pay!”