2339. A light on shopping

When the bulb of a desk lamp blows it seems to do so without any warning. One is happily working away and then POP! Shadows hover over the desk.

Howard’s desk lamp was a little bit different. It was perfect for his needs but it took a special bulb. He always liked to have one spare – just in case. Of course, his special bulb was slightly more expensive and not available among the more common, everyday bulbs at the supermarket.

There are so many options these days when it comes to bulbs. Who hasn’t arrived home with a screw-in bulb when the fitting takes a bayonet? And one enters a shop in search of a 75 watt bulb only to discover that the packaging proclaims not wattage but “lumens”; to say nothing of the size of the base. Is it E12, E17, or E26? Then one must select the right colour of white; warm perhaps.

Howard decided that the best way to ensure he purchased the exact same bulb was to take the spare bulb into the shop for comparison. He found exactly the right one almost immediately, and it was identically packaged.

“And sir,” said the shop assistant, “what is that second light bulb you are holding? It looks very much like you are trying to get two for the price of one.”

The police were called. Three hours later, Howard seemed to have convinced one and all that he had brought the spare light bulb into the shop himself.

Now for the next shopping task. His wife had said to get some candles – “Not the wrong candles like you got last time. The base of the candle has to be exact; if it’s too small it won’t stand up in our dining candelabra; if it’s too big it won’t fit into our dining candelabra.”

There were so many options and variety in a candle shop. Howard was glad he had brought along a box of the exact-sized candles he needed to buy.

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