We Can't Keep It All to Ourselves

Just then, a faint noise came from the side of the Sugar Refinery. An inconspicuous little door slowly opened, and a figure in the refinery's uniform appeared before the crowd.

He strode to the doorway, cleared his throat, and called out to the merchants who had been waiting there for hours: "Attention, everyone! A fresh batch of premium white sugar is ready, with six hundred kilograms still available! Merchants holding numbers fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen may come in to collect your orders!"

Before he had finished speaking, three hands shot up from the crowd as if their owners had planned it. Three voices answered at once: "That's me! I'm number fourteen!" "Number fifteen, right here!" "Ha! It's finally my turn—number sixteen!"

Their faces shone with excitement and anticipation, as though they had won a priceless treasure. The other merchants could only watch, envy and jealousy plain in their eyes.

The three lucky men wasted no time. They headed straight for the open side door.

Soon, the Sugar Refinery's main gate opened as well. The assistants who had come with them sprang into action, pulling their loaded carts through the gate in a line.

The remaining merchants gathered together and talked over one another. Some stood whispering, some sat sighing, and others paced anxiously back and forth.

"It's already afternoon, and they've only reached number sixteen! Good heavens, I'm number twenty-five. At this rate, will I even get a turn today?" complained a merchant with a worried face.

Another merchant scoffed. "What are you so worked up about? Look at me—I'm number thirty-four, way behind you. If I'm not panicking, why are you?"

A third voice cut in. "Quit complaining and think of a solution. We can only buy two hundred kilograms at a time, and after each purchase, we have