This, That, and the Other

“Look, Chet, I know that you sank a lot of money into that stock I recommended to you earlier this year,” Roger, Chet’s stock broker said, “but the market is in a downturn, so, yeah, you’re a little underwater at the moment. But let me assure that this is a temporary situation. Yes, stock prices are way down, but they’re going to rebound and now would be the ideal time to buy more shares when prices are low.”

“So are you telling me that you’re recommending I sink even more money into that same stock that I have already sunk most of my life’s saving into?” Chet asked Roger.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying, Chet,” Roger said. “Because when the market rebounds, and it will rebound, every penny you will have sunk into that stock will be recovered and because you bought low and can sell high, you’ll realize a significant profit.”

“Roger, let me ask you a question,” Chet said. Without waiting for Roger to answer, Chet continued. “You earn a commission on each transaction you make for me, right? So you earned a commission when you initially bought those shares for me, and even though the market value of the shares is in the toilet, you haven’t lost anything. Now you want me to sink even more money into that company and you’ll earn a commission from that transaction, too. Am I right so far, Roger?”

“Um, yes, that’s correct,” Roger said.

“And when I sell these shares in the future,” Chet said, “regardless of whether I made or lost money on my investment in this company that you recommended to me, you’ll get a commission then, too, right?”

“Yes, that’s how it works.”

“I’m glad that works for you, Roger,” Chet said, “but it doesn’t work for me. You’re fired, Roger.”

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Written for Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt, where Linda has asked us to use the words “sink, sank, and/or sunk in our posts.