(A)
When billionaire James Walker was once asked by a journalist, “Is there anyone richer than you?”, he replied, “Yes, there is one young man I’ll never forget.” He told the story of when he first met David at a New York airport. Years ago, James was broke and stuck at the airport, killing time reading newspaper headlines at the newsstand. One headline caught (a) his eye, but he had no money to buy the paper.
(B)
Years passed and James became a wealthy businessman, but he never forgot the young man he had met at the airport. He found David running a small bookstore and visited him there. (b) He introduced himself, saying, “David, you helped me twice when you had almost nothing. I want to give you anything you wish.” He looked at (c) him and said, “You can’t truly compensate me.”
(C)
James asked, “Why not?” David replied, “Because I gave to you when I had almost nothing. You’re offering me something now that you have everything. That’s just generosity at convenience. So, I can’t accept your offer.” James realized that money doesn’t make someone rich. Remembering that moment, (d) he said to the journalist, “It’s the willingness to give even when you have very little that makes you wealthy. And so, David is the richest person I have ever met.”
(D)
Just then, David, working at the newsstand noticed James. (e) He asked, “Would you like to buy this, sir?” But, James hesitated, saying he had no money. David smiled and said, “Me, too. But I have enough for this. Take it as a gift.” Three months later, James, still broke, met him at the newsstand once more. Again, David gave him a newspaper without expecting anything in return.