地方报社负责刊登死亡讣告的部门电话响了。

“登一篇讣告多少钱？”

……

The phone rang in the obituary department of the local newspaper. "How much does it cost to have an obituary printed"? asked the woman. "It's five dollars a word， ma'am，" the clerk replied politely. "Fine，" said the woman after a moment. "Got a pencil?" "Yes ma'am." "Got some paper?" "Yes ma'am." "Okay， write this down: 'Cohen dead'." "That's all?" asked the clerk disbelievingly. "That's it." "I'm sorry ma'am， I should have told you - there's a five word minimum." "Yes， you should've，" snapped the woman. Now let me think a minute... okay， got a pencil?" "Yes ma'am." "Got some paper?" "Yes， ma'am." "Okay， here goes: 'Cohen dead. Cadillac for Sale.'”

地方报社负责刊登死亡讣告的部门电话响了。

“登一篇讣告多少钱？”

一位女士问。

“五美元一个字，太太。”

书记员礼貌地回答。

“好的，”女士沉默了一小会儿，“拿着笔呢吗？”

“是的，夫人。”

“纸呢？”

“是的，夫人。”

“好的，这样写：‘科恩去世了’”

“就这些了？”

书记员疑惑地问道。

“对，就这些。”

“很抱歉，夫人，我刚才没有告诉您，在我们这登讣告最少也得五个字。”

“没错，你就应该告诉我，”女士有点生气了，“现在我得考虑一下，嗯…拿着笔呢吗？”

“是的，夫人。”

“纸呢？”

“是的，夫人。”

“好的，这样写：‘科恩去世了，出售一辆卡迪拉克轿车。’”