Three engineers and three accountants are
traveling by train to a conference. At the
station, the three accountants each buy tickets
and watch as the three engineers buy only a single
ticket.
“How are three people going to travel on only one
ticket?” asks an accountant.
“Watch and you’ll see,” answers an engineer.
They all board the train. The accountants take
their respective seats but all three engineers
cram into a restroom and close the door behind
them. Shortly after the train has departed, the
conductor comes around collecting tickets. He
knocks on the restroom door and says,
“Ticket, please.”
The door opens just a crack and a single arm
emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes
it and moves on.
The accountants saw this and agreed it was quite
a clever idea. So after the conference, the
accountants decide to copy the engineers on
the return trip and save some money (being clever
with money, and all that). When they get to the
station, they buy a single ticket for the return
trip. To their astonishment, the engineers don’t
buy a ticket at all.
“How are you going to travel without a ticket?”
says one perplexed accountant.
“Watch and you’ll see,” answers an engineer.
When they board the train the three accountants
cram into a restroom and the three engineers cram
into another one nearby. The train departs.
Shortly afterward, one of the engineers leaves his
restroom and walks over to the restroom where the
accountants are hiding. He knocks on the door and
says, “Ticket, please!”
