A friend of mine, while visiting his mother in Florida, took her to a shoe store to purchase a new pair of shoes. While she was trying on different styles, my friend took the manager aside. "When she picks out a pair that she likes," he said, "just tell her that the price is twelve dollars. I'll pay the regular price, whatever it is."
The following week, my friend was walking by the shoe store, and the manager recognized him and called him in.
"What's the problem?" asked my friend as he entered the store. "Wasn't my check any good?"
"That's not it," answered the manager. "The problem is that your mother is bringing all her friends in for those twelve-dollar shoes."