Fix it ticket

Annie & Janet came home from gymnastic class (Janet was the driver) a few weeks back and Annie called everyone into the living room for a big announcement. She had a big smile on her face as we all gathered around wondering if maybe she had made the 2012 Olympic team. (She had been working very hard on pointing her toes.) Then with a "ta...daaa!!!" she pulled a paper from behind her back and joyfully announced "Granma got a ticket!!!
I was crestfallen (I love that word) as we had so many tickets in the last few years that the city was finally able to afford new parking lot construction at city hall. But, thankfully it was only a fix-it ticket for a burned-out headlight. Wait a second....why should I be thankful for any kind of ticket. It was still going to cost. I was crestfallen.
I said to Janet that it was at least not going to cost that much, as the last time I had a bulb replaced it was only $16. Yeah, I had to work in Springfield, MO. a couple of years ago and had to get a bulb replaced and it was only $26 at Pep Boys. I was in shock, because I had to work and because the last time that I had a bulb replaced (it was back in the 80's) it cost $96. I was so pleased(happy, joyful, ecstatic, enraptured...all those emotions I get when I think of something like the birth of my child or savings) to see the price had fallen.(Volume selling) So a year later ( it's becoming a tradition) when I had to replace a bulb, I was by an NTB store and I pulled in and when it came time to pay, I pulled out a couple of crisp $20's and the clerk said " That'll be $16."
Wow! Now I was ready to die ( as soon as the Cubbies win the World Series) The price had dropped another $10 in just a year. Someone had discovered a way to make a cheaper light bulb. I had such a huge smile on my face and crestfallen or not this was the best day of my life (closely followed by the birth of my child)
I cheerfully drove to NTB (the same store) walked in and asked that a bulb be replaced. The clerk starts typing into his computer and I'm thinking that the price is probably down to $6 and maybe I'll just throw in a little tip. (never mind...I was getting carried away with enrapture)
He muttered "wow" and I thought "It's so low that I can probably pay for it with the change in my ashtray." That'll be $123!" (and he said it with a straight face) I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was in shock. "That's absolutely ridiculous!" I said in my most shocked and crestfallen voice. It sounded like this "That's absolutely ridiculous!" Now you say it.
"How can it be $123, when last year it was only $16." I crestfallenly said. "You probably keyed in the wrong part number!" "No" he said "this is the right number." and he turned his computer screen to show me.(I thought that I had all the GM part numbers memorized, but this one eluded me) (I also suspected that this was how GM's bailout money was being repaid)
I walked out in a fit of good taste and drove home, got on the phone and called Pep Boys, but the phone had been disconnected and I was told they had closed.(Never sell your stuff too low!) Then I called Pfaff Motors ( There you go Troy..free advertising)( For the best deal in town go see Troy! For the best cars around go see Troy! If you want a car or truck and not having any luck, go see Troy! Go see Troy! Go see Troy!)(Hum the jingle like this....hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm! Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm! Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm, hmm hmm hmm!Hmm hmm hmm! Hmm hmm hmm!) The Service Manager said "Oh about $30." It wasn't $16, but it wasn't $123. Also Pfaff Motors used to be Pfaff Chevrolet (They probably took away his dealership when he refused to mark up his bulbs) and now Troy has a loyal customer or at least until I can find bulb replacements cheaper. I hope he doesn't get crestfallen.