A man's car breaks down in the deep desert along a desolate road.

He begins the long walk back to civilization.

Without water or provisions, he slowly succumbs to the daytime desert heat, and the nighttime desert cold. He staggers along, step by agonizing step, each footfall a jarring reminder of the many miles to go to that cool drink of water that will end his parched misery. As he comes over a small rise, he sees in the near distance an old man sitting in the sparse shade of a tiny palm tree. In front of the old man is a table, and on the table are neat rows of neckties. An attached sign says, "Ties, 150." "Water, water!" the thirsty traveler shouts to the old man.

The old man looks at him curiously, and asks, "Would you like to buy a tie?" "A tie???" shouts the traveler, "For 150? I'm parched. Give me water!" The old man says slowly, "I have no water to give you, but about two miles over those sand dunes is a restaurant." Without thanking the old man, the traveler hobbles as best he can over the dunes, toward the restaurant that he imagines will be his thirst-quenching savior. About five hours later, the old man, still sitting in the sparse shade of his tiny palm tree, turns his head to see the traveler once more. This time the man is crawling over the sand dune, his water-starved body using its last ounce of strength to drag himself back to the old man.

As his aching body flops down in a dusty heap in front of the table, the old man leans over and asks, "Did you find the restaurant?" "Yes, " the traveler manages to say, "But they wouldn't let me in without a tie!"