In the hospital the relatives gathered in the waiting room, where a family member lay gravely ill.
Finally, the doctor came in looking tired and somber.
'I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news,' he said as he surveyed the worried faces. 'The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain transplant. It's an experimental procedure, very risky, but it is the only hope. Insurance will cover the procedure, but you will have to pay for the brain.'
The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news. After a time, someone asked, 'How much will a brain cost?' The doctor quickly responded, '$5,000 for a male brain; $200 for a female brain.' The moment turned awkward. Some of the men actually had to ' try' to not smile, avoiding eye contact with the women.
One man unable to control his curiosity, finally blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask, 'Why is the m ale brain so much more than a female brain?' The doctor smiled at the innocence and explained to the entire group, 'It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to price the female brains a lot lower because they've been used.'
Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae.
