A neighbor of mine, while visiting his mother in New York, took her to a shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes. While she was trying on different styles, my neighbor took the manager aside. “When she picks out a pair that she likes,” he said, “just tell her that the price is 12 dollars. I’ll pay the regular price. I don’t care how much it is .” The following week, my neighbor was walking by the shoe store and the manager recognized him and called him in. “What’s the problem?” asked my neighbor 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 12-dollar shoes!”