I sat in the squeaky leather chair in my financial planner’s office and tried not to look nervous. The annual visit always terrified me, like I was about to make some faustian bargain.
“Is it a bull or a bear market?” I asked, pulling out the one bit of jargon I knew, but didn’t fully understand.
She smiled, exposing too many little white teeth, and passed a document across the desk. “Actually, it’s a goblin market. I can get your a fantastic rate on your 401K in exchange for your ability to taste strawberries.”
I sighed and signed the contract.

“Personal finance” by Alan Cleaver is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.

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