Post Office Philosopher

Recently two of my out-of-town friends had birthdays and as both are serious readers I thought they’d enjoy a good book I’d just read.

So I bought two more copies,  wrapped each for mailing,  and headed for the post office where I found John my favorite postal guy behind the counter.

“I’ll send them book rate.”  he said putting the first one on the scale.  “It’ll be $4.95.”  And so I took out a $10 bill to cover the anticipated postage for two.

Then John put the second book on the scale.  “This one will be $5.80.”  he said.

Puzzled I told John that the two books were identical and should weigh and cost the same.

“Ah yes,  they should,”  said my post office philosopher,  “but life is a bitter mystery.”

So true.

– Dana Susan Lehrman