A farmer's son was returning from the market with the crate of chickens his father had told him to carry home, when the box broke open and the chickens all escaped. The boy quickly fixed the crate and chased around the neighborhood gathering up the chickens. Hoping he had found them all, he finally made it home, expecting to get a strong lecture from his father.

"Pa, the chickens got loose, but I did get 12 of them back."

"Well you did a fine job, son," the farmer said proudly, "because I only sent you home with seven!"