The Phantom Dollar

THE PHANTOM DOLLAR BY JOHN M. ARRIBAS My first day as a bell hop at the motel delight Three men came looking for a room for the night Clerk said I have only a room but the price is right It’ll be ten dollars apiece for a sheltered night 10 dollars each, end of the hall, up one flight Soon after, clerk said I committed an oversight Cost of the room is actually 25 dollars per night Here is 5 dollars return it to the men, forthright They are at the end of the hall, up one flight 5 divided by 3 gives numbers that are not finite I gave them 1 each, remaining 2, I kept out of sight But something keeps nagging me night after night They each spent 9 dollars my 2 makes 29, right?? It’s the question that nags , a riddle needing light It’s a problem that put a bee under my collar What the heck happened to the other dollar??