3 Lawyers and 3 Engineers
Three lawyers and three engineers are traveling by train to a conference. At the station, the three lawyers 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?" asked one of the three lawyers.
"Watch and you'll see," answers one of the engineers.
They all board the train. The lawyers 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 lawyers saw this and agreed it was quite a clever idea.
So after the conference, the lawyers decide to copy the engineers on the return trip and save some money. 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," asks one perplexed lawyer.
"Watch and you'll see," says one of the engineers.
When they board the train the three lawyers 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 lawyers are hiding. He knocks on the door and says, "Ticket, please."
3人の弁護士と3人の技術者
3人の弁護士と3人の技術者がコンファレンスに向かうのに電車に乗ろうとしていた。駅では弁護士達が一人ずつ乗車券を買うが、技術者達は3人で1枚の乗車券しか買わなかった。「1枚の乗車券でどうやって電車に乗るつもりなんだ？」と弁護士のうちの一人が質問する。
「見てりゃ分かるよ。」と一人の技術者が答える。
全員で電車に乗りこむ。弁護士達はそれぞれの席に着くが、3人の技術者は全員トイレの個室に無理矢理入り、ドアを閉めてしまった。電車が出発するとすぐ、車掌が乗車券を回収して回る。車掌がトイレのドアを叩き、「乗車券を頂きます。」と言うと、ドアはほんのわずかだけ開き、中かから乗車券を持った手が伸びてくる。車掌は乗車券を持って行くと、次の客の乗車券を回収しに行く。弁護士達はこれを見て、なかなか賢いアイデアだと頷きあう。
コンファレンスが終わり、弁護士達は帰りの電車で技術者達の真似をしてお金を浮かすことにする。駅に着くと、弁護士達は帰りの乗車券を一枚だけ買う。しかし弁護士達は技術者達が乗車券を一枚も買わなかったので、びっくりしてしまう。
「乗車券無しでどうやって電車に乗るつもりなんだ？」と困惑した一人の弁護士が聞く。
「見てりゃ分かるよ。」と技術者の一人が答える。
電車に乗ると、弁護士達はトイレの個室に3人で入っていく。技術者達も弁護士達の近くの個室に3人で入っていく。そして電車は出発する。出発して少しすると、一人の技術者は個室から出てくると、弁護士達が隠れている個室の所まで歩いて行く。技術者は個室のドアを叩くとこう言う。「乗車券を頂きます。」
