Category: Joke Board
Jake is struggling through a bus station with two huge and obviously
heavy suitcases when a stranger walks up to him and asks "Have you got
the time?"
Jake sighs, puts down the suitcases and glances at his wrist. "It's a
quarter to six," he says.
"Hey, that's a pretty fancy watch!" exclaims the stranger.
Jake brightens a little. "Yeah, it's not bad. Check this out" - and he
shows him a time zone display not just for every time zone in the
world, but for the 86 largest metropoli. He hits a few buttons and
from somewhere on the watch a voice says "The time is eleven minutes
to six" in a posh British accent. A few more buttons and the same
voice says something in Japanese. Jake continues "I've put in regional
accents for each city". The display is unbelievably high quality and
the voice is simply astounding.
The stranger is struck dumb with admiration. "That's not all," says
Jake. He pushes a few more buttons and a tiny but very hi-resolution
map of central London appears on the display. "The flashing dot shows
our location by satellite positioning," explains Jake. "View recede
ten," Jake says, and the display changes to show the whole of Greater
London.
"I want to buy this watch!" says the stranger.
"Oh, no, it's not ready for sale yet; I'm still working out the bugs,"
says the inventor. "But look at this," and he proceeds to demonstrate
that the watch is also a very creditable little FM radio receiver with
a digital tuner, a sonar device that can measure distances up to 125
meters, a pager with thermal paper printout and most impressive of
all, the capacity for voice recordings of up to 300 standard-size
books," though I only have 32 of my favourites in there so far" says
Jake.
"I've got to have this watch!" says the stranger.
"No, you don't understand; it's not ready."
"I'll give you £1000 for it!"
"Oh, no, I've already spent more than that."
"I'll give you £5000 for it!"
"But it's just not fair."
"I'll give you £15,000 for it!" And the stranger pulls out a
checkbook. Jake stops to think. He's only put about £8500 into
materials and development, and with £15000 he can make another one
and have it ready for merchandising in only six months. The stranger
frantically finishes writing the check and waves it in front of him.
"Here it is, ready to hand to you right here and now. £15,000. Take it
or leave it." Jake abruptly makes his decision. "OK," he says and
peels off the watch. They make the exchange and the stranger starts
happily away.
"Hey, wait a minute," calls Jake after the stranger, who turns around
warily. Jake points to the two suitcases he'd been trying to wrestle
through the bus station. "Don't forget your batteries."