Sorry, prof, no free help

BYSTANDERS. While driving home one early evening recently, a lady professor had trouble with her car. She had a flat tire and alone she could not fix it. Luckily there were three “istambays” who offered to help. They changed the tire and the problem was solved. The lady prof thanked the boys and at the same time handed them P200 for “pahalipay.” As the professor was about to get into her car, two of the three boys approached her and said: “Kami diay, Mam.” She gave them P100 each but they demanded P200 each, the same amount she had given to the first “istambay.”

OK LANG. The lady acquiesced. Ok lang, she said to herself. It was getting late and she wanted to be home already. But she said she was telling herself: “I thought they were really out to help gratis et amore.”