Buy a Car

Arthur and Margaret had always dreamed of driving off into retirement in a sleek Mercedes Benz. They had scrimped and saved, carefully counting their pennies over the years, and now, at 75 and 72 respectively, they felt it was time to treat themselves. So, they found themselves at the local dealership, where a gleaming silver Mercedes Benz caught their eye.

The salesman, a slick-haired fellow named Dave, greeted them with a wide grin. "Good afternoon, folks! Fine choice you've got there. This beauty here is priced at $75,000."

Arthur, a shrewd negotiator in his prime, tried his best to haggle. "Seventy-five thousand? That's quite steep. How about we make it $70,000?" Dave shook his head, barely concealing his amusement. "Sorry, sir. $75,000 is the best we can do." 

Margaret squeezed Arthur's hand gently, silently urging him to accept. "We'll take it," Arthur finally said, determination in his voice. "We'll be back tomorrow with cash," Margaret added with a smile as they left the dealership. 

The next day, they returned as promised, cash in hand, only to witness a startling scene. The Mercedes Benz they had set their hearts on was being handed over to a young woman, no older than their granddaughter, for $65,000. Arthur's heart sank, and Margaret gasped in disbelief. 

"What's going on here?" Arthur demanded, his voice trembling with a mix of frustration and disappointment. Dave, still wearing his grin, gestured towards the young woman with a flourish. "Well, folks, she came in this morning with the cash, ready to buy. And look at her, a real charmer. How could I say no?" Before Arthur could voice his outrage, the young woman, Emily, approached them, extending a hand and smiling warmly. 

"Hi there grandpa! I told you I'd get him to lower the price. Here are the keys." Emily chuckled softly. "Grandpa, you taught me well. Remember all those times you haggled for deals at flea markets? I watched and learned." 

Arthur's eyes widened in recognition as he realized Emily's plan. She had used her charm and shrewd negotiation skills to drive a hard bargain, securing the car for less than the dealership's asking price. Dave, caught between admiration and embarrassment, could only shrug helplessly. 

After a moment of stunned silence, Margaret burst into laughter, followed by Arthur. "Well played, Emily," Arthur said, shaking his head in disbelief. Emily winked mischievously. "I couldn't let you pay full price, Grandpa. Besides, now we can all go for a ride together sometime."