The shop owner began moving a ladder towards a small cage on a shelf about fifteen feet up, near the ceiling of the store. “Ma’am, I’ve been in this business for forty years and the best singer I’ve ever heard is in that cage.”

“Don’t think I’m gonna feel obligated to pay for something I don’t want just because you’re climbing up a ladder like a monkey. I want a canary, but it’s got to be a singer.”

By this point, the shop keeper was coming down the ladder. “Ma’am, this bird is a veritable feathered Caruso!” He placed the cage on the counter and the bird burst into melody after melody.

Awed, the woman murmured, “Why, he is a good singer.” Suddenly she screamed, “Hey, this bird’s only got one leg!”

The pet store owner was unperturbed. “Lady, what do you want, a singer or a dancer?”