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"I had an appointment this morning at 11 a.m. with the president of a bank downtown here. I appeared exactly on time and when I entered the office, the receptionist asked me to sit in the waiting room and told me that a Mr. Carruthers would be with me momentarily."

Pierre nodded and just listened intently as Johann continued.

"I had been waiting for about five minutes, of course, busying myself reading the local financial papers, when Mr. Carruthers' secretary returned. I stood up, fully expecting to be ushered into his office when she started up on me."

"What do you mean, she started up on you?" Pierre said.

"I mean she told me that Mr. Carruthers was delayed and said he would not be able to see me at eleven as had been appointed. Instead, she said I had to return about 3 o'clock this afternoon to see him."

"And you did?" Pierre asked.

"Yes!" Johann said, again emphatically.

Fully expecting a negative reply, Pierre asked hesitantly, "And, did you get... the job?"

"Yes!" Johann said, once again, emphatically!

Pierre was a little surprised and taken aback, for he had never run into anything quite like this before.

He decided to investigate a little further.

"Well, if you are happy about being hired by the bank, why are you so depressed and in this state? You should be feeling exuberant. You are starting a new career. You have your whole life ahead of you. That's great news, not something to be sad or melancholy about," he said.

Johann raised his hand and cocked his index finger pointing to his image in the mirror behind the bar, to make his point of agreement.

"True!" he said, simultaneously blurting out the word with emphasis.

Pierre chuckled, not knowing what to think.

"Ok. Now you really have confused me," he said.

"I'll tell you." Johann said, as he took another swig of his beer. "You see, after Mr. Carruthers' secretary told me I had to return at 3 p.m. she apologized to me, saying she felt sorry for me, having to wait such a long time for the appointment. She then gave me the once over, and told me I needed a haircut."

"A haircut!" Pierre said.

"Yessss!" Johann said, prolonging the sound of the 's'.

"She said I should take my time, get a haircut, and come back at three for the appointment with Mr Carruthers. I didn't know what to make of it, but I thought to myself, if I have to get a haircut in order to secure this job - and I just got a haircut two days ago - then I will go and get another haircut! I will do whatever it is I have to do to get this job!"

Pierre smiled,

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