A retired couple lived near the ocean and walked the beach a lot. One summer during the high tourist season, they noticed a young woman who also walked the beach almost every day. She seemed pretty typical, as did the beachy tote bag she always carried, except for one thing ... periodically she would approach people who were sitting on the beach, glance around, then speak to them.
Generally, the people would respond negatively, waving her off, and the young woman would move on. But, occasionally someone would nod and there would be a quick exchange of money for something she carried in her bag. The couple assumed she was selling drugs and debated calling the police, but since they didn’t know for sure they just continued to watch her.
After a few more days of observation, the wife asked, “Honey, have you ever noticed that she only goes up to people with boom boxes and other electronic devices?”
He hadn’t, and said so. Said the wife, “Tomorrow I want you to get a towel and our big radio and go lie out on the beach. Then we can find out what she’s really doing.”
Well, the plan went off without a hitch, and the wife was almost hopping up and down with anticipation when she saw the young woman talk to her husband and then leave. The man walked up the beach and met his wife at the road.
“Well, is she selling drugs?” the wife asked excitedly.
“No, she’s not.” he said, shaking his head and stretching out the anticipation.
“Well, what is it, then?” his wife fairly shrieked.
The man grinned and said. “She’s selling batteries!”
“Batteries?” cried the wife. "You're kidding me?"
“I'm not honey,” replied the husband. “She sells C-cells by the seashore.”