Three IBM Engineers and three Microsoft Employees are traveling by train to
a conference. At the station, the three Microsoft Employees each buy
tickets and watch as the three IBM Engineers buy only a single ticket.
"How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" asks a Microsoft
Employee. "Watch and you'll see," answers the IBM Engineer.
They all board the train. The Microsoft Employees take their respective
seats but all three IBM Engineers cram into a restroom and close the door
behind them. Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes
around collecting tickets. He knocks on the restroom door and says, "Ticket,
please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket
in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on.
The Microsoft Employees saw this and agreed it was quite a clever idea.
So after the conference, the Microsoft Employees decide to copy the IBM
Engineers on the return trip and save some money (being clever with money,
and all that). When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for
the return trip. To their astonishment, the IBM Engineers don't buy a ticket
at all. "How are you going to travel without a ticket?" says one perplexed
Microsoft Employee. "Watch and you'll see," answers a IBM Engineer.
When they board the train the three Microsoft Employees cram into a restroom
and the three IBM Engineers cram into another one nearby. The train departs.
Shortly afterward, one of the IBM Engineers leaves his restroom and walks
over to the restroom where the Microsoft Employees are hiding. He knocks on
the door and says, "Ticket, please."