One day a bus stopped at a tourist spot, and all the passengers got out and
went into a nearby restaurant.#
One of them walked up to the manager and said, "Good morning. I am Mr. Tom
Wilkins. These people are all patients at the City Psychiatric Hospital.They
are having their annual bus trip. They will all behave very well, but there is
one small problem. They will want to pay for their food and drink with bottle
caps. I'll be grateful if you will let them do this, then let me have the bill
just before we leave."#
The manager wanted to be helpful, so he said, "That will be fine, sir. I hope
you will all enjoy yourselves in my restaurant."#
The patients all sat down. They ordered their food and drink, and behaved very
well. No one knew they were patients at a psychiatric hospital.#
At the end of the meal each of them paid his or her bill with bottle caps.#
Then they left the restaurant and got back on the bus.#
Tom Wilkins went up to the manager. "You've been most kind," he said, "and
understanding. I'll pay the bill now."#
The manager added up everything the patients had ordered, and gave the total
to Tom Wilkins. It came to quite a lot of money.#
"That's a fair price," Tom said. "I'm happy to pay that. Have you got change
for six bottles?"&