Such a Deal

The magicians at the photocopy shop here crank out new business cards in less than a day. Usually a box of 50 (4,000 kyat, or around three dollars) lasts me long enough to decide that I want to tinker with the wording. This time I decide nothing needs changing—just a refill.

I return the next day to pick them up. The owner hands me a box he says contains 108 cards. Is he playing around with me? I know that number often shows up in Buddhism and other spiritual contexts around the planet. There's also something astronomical—the distance from the Earth to the Sun, or energy lines, or whoknowswhat. But I was very clear about only needing 50. I ask him how much I owe.

"8,000 kyat."

He can see I’m a little annoyed about paying double what I expected.  

“Eight cards for free!” he smiles. What a great country.