$50 isn $50

OLD CHARLIE AND HIS WIFE, THERESA WENT TO THE STATE FAIR EVERY YEAR. EVERY YEAR, THERESA WOULD SAY, "CHARLIE, I'D LIKE TO RIDE IN THAT HELICOPTER."

CHARLIE ALWAYS REPLIED, " I KNOW THERESA, BUT THAT HELICOPTER RIDE IS 50 DOLLARS AND 50 DOLLARS IS 50 DOLLARS."

A FEW YEARS LATER, THERESA AND CHARLIE WENT TO THE FAIR. THERESA SAID, " CHARLIE, I'M 85 YEARS OLD. IF I DON'T RIDE THAT HELICOPTER NOW, I MIGHT NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE."

CHARLIE REPLIED, "THERESA, THAT HELICOPTER IS 50 DOLLARS AND $50 DOLLARS IS 50 DOLLARS."

THE PILOT OVERHEARD THE COUPLE. HE SAID, "FOLKS, I'LL MAKE YOU A DEAL. I'LL TAKE THE BOTH OF YOU FOR A RIDE. IF YOU CAN STAY QUIET FOR THE ENTIRE RIDE AND NOT SAY A WORD, I WON'T CHARGE YOU! BUT IF YOU SAY ONE WORD, IT'S 50 DOLLARS."

CHARLIE AND THERESA AGREED --- AND UP THEY WENT.

THE PILOT DID ALL KINDS OF FANCY MANEUVERS. BUT NOT A WORD WAS HEARD. HE DID HIS DAREDEVIL TRICKS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT STILL NOT A WORD.

WHEN THEY LANDED, THE PILOT TURNED TO THERESA. HE SAID, "BY GOLLY, I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO GET YOU TO YELL OUT, BUT YOU DIDN'T. I'M IMPRESSED!"

THERESA REPLIED, "WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING WHEN CHARLIE FELL OUT, BUT 50 DOLLARS IS 50 DOLLARS."