A husband and wife were at home one evening when they heard a knock on the door. When they went to answer it, there was a strange gentleman standing on the doorstep. He was dressed in an expensive black suit and he was holding a large briefcase.
“I wonder if I might have a few moments of your time?” he said.
Assuming he was a travelling salesman they invited him in.
The gentleman placed his briefcase down on the kitchen table and took something out. It was a box with a single red button on the top. He handed the box to the husband and wife.
“Today is your luck day,” he said in a calm tone. “You have an opportunity to become rich beyond your wildest imagination.
“If you press this button, you will receive $1 million dollars in cash. There is just one catch. Someone you don’t know will die.”
Saying that, the gentleman opened his briefcase and showed them the stacks of money inside.
The gentleman told them he would return the next day to collect the box.
After he left, the husband and wife discussed the box. They argued for hours. Eventually, they decided to press the button.
Nothing happened.
The next day, the gentleman came back. He took the box and in exchange, he gave them $1,000,000.
As he was about to leave, the husband asked, “Did someone really die?”
“Of course,” the gentleman replied. “It happened last night. In a distant place. Someone you don’t know died.”
The husband felt guilty. His conscience was eating at him.
“One more question,” he said.
“Yes, what do you want to know?” said the gentleman.
“What are you going to do with the box now?”
The gentleman smiled and said, “I’m going to give it to someone who doesn’t know you.”
