The Ballet Tickets

Trying to solve a problem that didn't exist

Monissa approached her American English teacher friends and said, “I can get tickets to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake by the Mongolia National Ballet Society. Best orchestra and ballet troupe in the country. I’d like you to be my guests.”

Barry Sansa did the figuring in his head. He knew what it would cost him Stateside to go to a ballet in a large city, often out of his price range even for a cheap seat. It was just not something he did regularly. He reasoned in Mongolia it would cost about a tenth of what he would pay to hear a quality orchestra and ballet troupe. Stateside it was just not affordable, but in country, the cost was minimal even though the performance would certainly be outstanding.

Barry said, “Love to go. Can we help with the tickets?”

“Barry,” she said, a little disappointed. “You two have done so much for me that I want to do this for you this Christmas. I want to pay for them. No, I have to pay for them. Please let me do this.”

He smiled. “How silly of me. We’d be honored to be your guests, Monissa. Perhaps I should now teach you the word, ‘Touche!’”

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