John was a clerk in a small drugstore but he was not much of a salesman．He could never find the item the customer wanted．
Bob，the owner，had about enough and warned John that the next sale he missed would be his last．
Just then a man came in coughing and he asked John for their best cough syrup．Try as he might John could not find the cough syrup．Remembering Bob’s warning he sold the man a box of Ex-Lax and told him to take it all at once．The customer did as John said and then walked outside and leaned against a lamppost．
Bob had seen the whole thing and came over to ask John what had transpired．
“He wanted something for his cough but I couldn’t find the cough syrup．I substituted Ex-Lax and told him to take it all at once，”John explained．
“Ex-Lax won’t cure a cough．”Bob shouted angrily．
“Sure it will．”John said，pointing at the man leaning on the lamppost．“Look at him．He’s afraid to cough．”
Clerk - 店员，指在商店或办公室工作的人员。
Drugstore - 药房，也常指销售药品和其他商品的商店。
Salesman - 销售员，指专门从事销售工作的人。
Item - 商品，指顾客想要购买的具体物品。
Owner - 拥有者，指拥有某物或某企业的人。
Warned - 警告，指提醒某人注意可能的问题或后果。
Sale - 销售，指商品的买卖过程。
Missed - 错过，指未能成功完成某事。
Customer - 顾客，指购买商品或服务的人。
Coughing - 咳嗽，指呼吸道疾病的一种症状。
Cough Syrup - 止咳糖浆，指用来缓解咳嗽的药物。
Substituted - 替代，指用一种东西或方法来替换另一种。
Ex-Lax - 一种品牌名，指一种用于缓解便秘的泻药。
Transpired - 发生，指事情的进展或结果。
Angry - 生气的，指因不满或受挫而情绪激动。
Cure - 治疗，指采取措施消除疾病或不适。
Afraid - 害怕，指由于恐惧或担忧而不敢做某事。
Lamppost - 路灯杆，指街道上用于照明的杆子。
治疗咳嗽的强力泻药
约翰虽是一个小药铺的店员，工作却不称职。他总是找不到顾客要买的药。
老板鲍勃对此已经忍无可忍，警告约翰说如果卖药时再出差错，就请他回家。
就在这时，一个患有咳嗽的男子走进了药铺，让约翰给他拿店里最好的止咳糖浆。约翰找了半天也没有找到。想到鲍勃对自己的警告，于是约翰便卖给他一瓶强力泻药，并让他立即全部喝下。这位顾客遵照执行，刚走到外面，就靠在了路灯杆上，动弹不得。
鲍勃目睹了一切，走过来问约翰到底是怎么回事。
“他想买治咳嗽的药，但我找不到止咳糖浆，就换了一瓶强力泻药给他，并且告诉他立即全部服下。”约翰解释道。
“强力泻药治不了咳嗽。”鲍勃大叫，非常恼火。
“当然能治。”约翰说道，指着那位靠在路灯杆上的人。“不信您瞧瞧，他已经不敢咳嗽了。”